E-Newsletter
July 2018

Headlines

Ben Macpherson MSP announced as new Scottish Minister for International Development

The Alliance welcomes Ben Macpherson MSP as the new Scottish Government Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development. Mr Macpherson's appointment was announced at the end of June as part of the Scottish Government's cabinet reshuffle.

We are looking forward to working with Mr Macpherson in coming months and years, representing the interests of our broad membership and the international development sector in Scotland.

SolarBerry handover to Choma community in Malawi

Georgia Strachan of the Turing Trust, writes about the recent completion of their latest project - the SolarBerry - that supports off-grid communities gain access to the digital skills they need for life and work in the 21st Century.

The SolarBerry, a solar-powered computer lab which uses low-energy Raspberry Pi computers, can also be used to generate income by using the excess energy it generates to recharge small electrical goods, like phones and lamps, at a fraction of the cost and environmental damage of petrol generators.

Members Noticeboard

Upcoming Alliance training workshop on using video

This first of its kind training workshop, tailor made for international development programme and comms staff alike, explores the use of video using smartphones.

With the right skills in place, programme staff and others working overseas can directly share stories to a wider audience that can not only help fundraising, but also bring case studies to life, and build further awareness of the impact of their work.

Learn more and book your place

Online training pilot and future plans

Three online training events have now been held, completing the pilot project designed to test the popularity of this way of developing skills and learning. The content covered sustainability, partnerships and income generation. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. A second series of online training sessions is now being planned for the winter. A survey will soon be circulated to ensure the content of training is always designed in response to demand.

PVG Consultation & Safeguarding

The Scottish Government Consultation on the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme closes on 18 July 2018. The Alliance is responding and encourages its members to do likewise. Currently the PVG scheme only covers Scotland but there is an opportunity through this consultation to propose an extension of this to cover staff or volunteers engaged in Scotland and deployed overseas. We provide more information about the consultation, how to respond, and give an update on the Alliance’s safeguarding work.

Save the date for the Alliance Annual Conference 2018!

This year's conference, 'Tomorrow’s World', on 25th September 2018 is in Edinburgh at the COSLA Conference Centre, a 5 minute walk from Haymarket Station.

We will focus on the role of young people in development both in Scotland and across the world, and we are delighted to announce that Imogen Davies, Oxfam GB's Programme Adviser on Youth Active Citizenship, will be speaking about their work strengthening the voices of young people.

We will be opening registration soon. In the meantime, get involved in our conference photo competition.

Learn more

NEWS

Join us!

Want to be part of the Alliance team? We are currently recruiting for two roles within our expanded Effectiveness Team.

Next International Development CPG on Climate Justice at 1pm on 26 September

Save the date for the next Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on International Development meeting which will focus on Climate Justice, and specifically the new Climate Change Bill introduced to Parliament in May 2018.

We will welcome voices from across the world to comment on how Climate Change is affecting their country and why urgent and bold action is needed from industrialised countries to protect those who have done the least to cause the problem but bear the majority of the consequences.

Email Lewis for more information.

Aid in the National Interest: When is Development Cooperation Win-Win?

Some development fundamentalists think that aid should never be spent directly in the national interest. At the other extreme, some people—apparently including the UK Treasury—believe all development cooperation should be directly win-win. Owen Barder of CDG believes the truth is in-between.

New UN SDG report finds mounting global challenges for achieving 2030 Agenda

The 2018 Sustainable Development Goals Report found that conflict and climate change were major contributing factors leading to growing numbers of people facing hunger and forced displacement, as well as curtailing progress towards universal access to basic water and sanitation services.

Free Digital Fundraising Training - September

Crowdfunding can be an invaluable tool for fundraising, as our Handy Hints resource points out.

Global Giving, a large crowdfunding community, are now accepting applications for the September Accelerator training programme. Participating charities will receive free online training in digital fundraising, potential match funding opportunities, bonus prizes and graduates will receive permanent GlobalGiving partnership! Apply by 1st August 2018.

The Alliance speaks at Barcelona Conference

Alliance Policy Officer, Lewis Ryder-Jones joined a panel of representatives from government and civil society from across Europe at CIDOB last week. Lewis presented on policy coherence for development (PCD), and highlighted the important role that civil society plays on this issue in Scotland.

Research collaboration identifies landslide risk-reduction strategies for low income communities

Alliance member, the University of Edinburgh, collaborates on a two year research project in the Colombian city Medellin, uncovering political and technical barriers to landslide risk-reduction strategies for informal communities.

Call for applications: Scottish Fair Trade Youth Network

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum invites young people aged 16 to 25 to apply to the Scottish Fair Trade Youth Network, a new programme which will give young people opportunities to create and contribute towards Fair Trade campaigns in Scotland.
Application deadline is Monday 16 July 2018.

Find out more

FCO Heads of Mission meet Alliance members

Six senior diplomats met at the University of Glasgow with a group of Alliance members and University staff. This meeting on 26 June was part of a two-day round of visits to Scottish institutions. It was the first time that international NGOs have been invited to participate in this forum. The unusual opportunity to bring international development, FCO and university staff together made for useful cross-sectoral discussions.

Brexit: EU accused of making false claims over aid contracts

In a Guardian exclusive, British NGOs ‘wrongly’ told they will lose funding if no deal is reached. UK NGOs could be both discouraged from applying and be discriminated against during the process, if the proper criteria are not used.

RESOURCES

Rewriting the Migration Story with Louise Arbour – CGD Podcast

Part One of a two-part podcast series that discusses policy choices for managing migration. Michael Clemens, co-director of CGD’s Migration, Displacement, and Humanitarian Policy program, speaks briefly with Louise Arbor, Special Representative for International Migration at the United Nations, about what’s at stake in the ongoing negotiations for the Global Compact for Migration.

Listen

Scottish Government - Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy - First Annual Progress Report

On 30 May 2017 the Scottish Government published the first Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy, following extensive joint work and consultation. In June, the first annual progress report on implementation was published. This report looks at the wide range of work taken forward by the Scottish Government and partners to tackle this crime and improve support to its victims.

Read the report

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