The results of the recent Scottish Government International Development Small Grants round were announced at the end of March.  Under the programme, a total of £354,860 has been allocated to fund 12 projects which will be delivered across Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania by Scottish-based iNGOs.

Jane Salmonson, Chief Executive at Scotland's International Development Alliance, said:

“The Scottish Government is unique as a donor in its commitment to making grants to small international organisations. It has proved year after year how relatively small sums can achieve significant results overseas while helping our own international organisations here in Scotland to develop and grow.”

On Wednesday 28 March the Scottish Government announced the opening of the second round of the Climate Justice Innovation Fund (CJIF). The CJIF is open to any Scottish-based organisation, working in partnership with in-country partner(s), to support the delivery of climate justice-related projects which demonstrate innovation in the field.

Meghan Laws, Research Coordinator at the Third Generation Project, writes about their work promoting the rights of communities on the front lines of climate change.

Working in partnership with a grassroots organisation in Rwanda, they are currently using research findings to raise awareness of the effects of land dislocation and resettlement on Rwanda's Twa in population.

The Alliance held its first safeguarding event following the wave of media coverage of abuses in the international sector and subsequent UK and Scottish Government actions requiring new levels of compliance from their grant recipients.  Thirty-three delegates heard presentations from The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), The Offices of the Charity Regulator (OSCR), Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) and BBC Children in Need (CIN).

On 19 April, we are pleased welcome MANGO who will be leading a two day workshop on “Assessing your Partners’ Financial Health”. This workshop would normally cost £550, but is completely free for members! Don't miss out!

The course will build the confidence and skills of NGO staff to assess and strengthen local partner NGOs' financial management systems and capacity.

On 24 April, the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on International Development will explore the role of the media and perceptions of international development in Scotland.

Guest speakers will include Jamie Livingstone (Head of Oxfam Scotland), Sally Foster-Fulton (Head of Christian Aid Scotland) and Susan Dalgety (Writer and Edinburgh Evening News Columnist).

The quality of our partnerships is a crucial component in the successful delivery of our overseas projects. Donors often ask about community involvement in project design. How best can we work with our partners or potential partners as they seek involve their communities in establishing needs and deciding on desired project outcomes. Are we – and they- involving the people that matter most? 

Our online training on 25 April sets out to help members identify the best ways of designing and implementing programmes which draw in the partner organisations and the people vital to producing high quality, sustainable results.

It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the departure of our outstanding Effectiveness and Learning Advisor, Kruti Buch. She leaves with our thanks for an outstanding contribution made over the past year.

Bridging the gap as we recruit her replacement will be Philippa Ramsden, an international development practitioner with over 17 years experience in the international development sector, most recently with Save the Children in Rwanda.