August 2025 News
SIDA UPDATES
Pictured above (L-R): Nadeem Baqir (Islamic Relief); Val Brown (Christian Aid); and Frances Guy (SIDA)
Spotlight on Global Citizenship
Last week we attended a number of events highlighting important aspects of our work around Global Citizenship. At the Edinburgh Book Festival, we joined colleagues at Scotdec engaging with students from local schools around the theme of repair. At the Festival of Politics, we attended a panel discussion on disinformation featuring SIDA member WOSDEC, and at Beyond Borders International Festival over the weekend, our CEO Frances Guy participated in a panel sharing the findings of the latest Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) report. Curious to learn more about our work with global citizenship? Read our latest article by Hannah Clyne, our Humanitarian Action and Global Citizenship Officer to learn more.
Humanitarian Emergency Fund Annual Report 2024-25
The Scottish Government has recently published a summary report on the impact of projects funded through the Humanitarian Emergency Fund between 2024 and 2025. Some key highlights from the 2024-25 report include: £2.51 million in Scottish Government funding allocated, distributed over 15 projects in10 countries, with 158,007 people reached directly, of which 91,405 were female. Read the full report here.
How does your organisation fare on gender equality?
Last week, members will have received an invitation to complete our gender equality scorecard. Please make sure you return it to us by Friday 19 September. The scorecard will help you understand your organisation's gender equality practices, and the information will contribute to SIDA's report on Gender Equality in Scotland's International Development Sector, highlighting strengths, areas for growth, and practical steps we as a sector can take to strengthen gender equality, as well as informing our webinars, workshops and other learning resources. Complete the survey here.
FOCUS ON: ETHICAL USE OF IMAGES
Last week, famine was officially declared in Gaza. As images of acute suffering continue to circulate in media and online, and while it is vital that we continue speaking up against the horrors unfolding in Palestine and other crises happening around the world, it is important that any of us engaged in sharing about crises like these also take a moment to consider the implications of the images we choose to share.
When choosing images, we must carefully consider how we can both maintain public engagement and preserve human dignity; we do not have to choose one over the other, and must be careful not to prioritise attention to a cause at the expense of those we are seeking to support. This month, we’d like to highlight some key resources to help you (and us!) reflect on some ethical considerations regarding the use of images in advocacy and communications aspects of humanitarian work.
#OverExposed Ethical Storytelling Campaign
Three years ago, Bond UK member Chance for Childhood launched #OverExposed, a campaign urging the development sector to re-think its approach to storytelling.
“We wanted to address the complex power dynamics that underpin the images and language used to represent the children we support and serve. We knew it was possible to highlight the needs of children in vulnerable situations through positive, respectful communication practices – and bring the sector along with us.”
Chance for Childhood is now relaunching their ethical storytelling campaign. Learn more about the campaign here.
Charity Advertising report: Charity Representations of Distant Others
This report, part of a research project conducted by David Girling, Associate Professor, University of East Anglia and Deborah Adesina, Researcher & Consultant in Communications and Development, provides a detailed analysis of UK charity visual communications in direct mail campaigns. The research asks: what characters and subject matters are depicted in charity marketing campaigns supporting international causes, via direct mail? How do British charities visually represent distant others (and global suffering) in direct mail, differently from in newspaper advertising? The report concludes with key findings and recommendations which may be of particular interest.
Decolonise How? | What does a crisis look like? The ethics of humanitarian imagery
In this article from the New Humanitarian, Patrick Gathara, Senior Editor for Inclusive Storytelling, explores our ethical obligation to ensure that people are not reduced to their worst moments, that their bodies not collapsed into spectacle. Read the full article here.
MEMBER UPDATES
Finance and Support Officer | HealthLink360
HealthLink360 are looking for a finance and support officer to join their team on a part-time basis. Reporting to the Managing Director, the successful candidate will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day finance management activities, including bookkeeping, monthly reporting, payroll administration and supporting the annual budget process.
Student Placements | University of Glasgow
Are you working on a project that would benefit from a Masters student's expertise? The University of Glasgow's MSc Earth Futures and MSc Climate and MSc Environmental Science programmes are connecting students with NGOs, charities, organisations, councils or statutory bodies in the community and/or environmental sector, with the aim of providing students with insights into the functions of the organisation and workplace structures, the opportunity to work with practitioners and further develop practical skills and experience on real tasks. Interested in hosting a placement? Expressions of interest required by early September.
Mamie Martin Fund: Call for Trustees
The Mamie Martin Fund’s Mission is to advance the education of young women and girls in North Malawi in secondary schools operated by Malawian partners. The organisation are looking to add to expand their Board of Trustees, seeking professional people who can bring knowledge and skills in the areas of IT, marketing and admin. Find out more below.
SCCAN Community Climate Finance Survey
The Scottish Community Climate Action Network (SCCAN) is assessing the current state of climate-related funding for communities and is exploring alternative finance models for community climate action. If you’re working on community climate action and want to share your views on funding pressures, please respond to this short survey. The results of this survey and other data will be compiled with other sources and shared with the Scottish Government, and will help shape SCCAN’s support and future initiatives.
Gaia Education | Connective Roots Course
This experiential online course from Gaia Education on regenerative culture helps strengthen the foundational roots of your community, project, or group dynamic, drawing on nature-based systems. The course is designed to help you and your community build the deep roots of a regenerative, connected culture. Through nature-based group practices and the 8 Shields Framework, you’ll learn to nurture the soil from which vibrant, healthy, and resilient communities grow.
SIDA members, this is your space! If you would like to feature in upcoming newsletters, please get in touch with us anytime at admin@intdevalliance.scot.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Featured Event: SIDA Annual Conference 2025
In the rapidly evolving context of aid budget cuts, growing conflicts, and climate shocks, join us to explore how alternative funding models, innovation, effective power shifting and partnership working can support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Spaces are limited and filling up fast, so register now to reserve your space (online or in person)! See the event page for the full programme. Special thanks to our headline sponsors, WaterAid UK, StoneX Payments and Kids Operating Room, and our associate sponsor Christian Aid Scotland for making this event possible!
When and where?
- Tuesday 30th September
- Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Panel Discussion on the Global Debt Crisis
Christian Aid invite you to an important panel discussion exploring the global debt crisis and the urgent need for reform. Chaired by former First Minister Humza Yousaf MSP, and featuring Christian Aid partners, economists, and experts in ethical finance, this panel will examine how governments, multilateral institutions, and private lenders can reshape the global financial system to promote responsible lending and sustainable development.
CPG on International Development
The Scottish Parliament's CPG on International Development will meet on Tuesday 16 September to discuss global partnerships and locally-led approaches to healthcare in the Global South.
When and where?
- Tuesday 16th September, 6-7.30pm
- Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
Malawi Cross-Party Group: Malawi's First Dental School
In 2018, the Scottish Government funded ‘The MalDent Project: towards a dental school for Malawi’. The grant was a partnership venture between the University of Malawi College of Medicine (now Kamuzu University of Health Sciences) and the University of Glasgow. Following development of a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) curriculum, the first students joined the course in 2019 and graduated in April 2025. There are now 124 dental students studying at KUHeS. During this meeting of the Cross Party Group on Malawi, members of the academic, healthcare, design and construction teams will provide the background to this innovative project and an update on its status and progress.
Mass Lobby | Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
This mass lobby is a chance for our elected representatives to hear directly from those they serve - people who care deeply about Scotland’s future and want to see people and nature thrive together, with clean air, warm homes, secure jobs, restored nature, strong public services and support for communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. Right now we aren't seeing the fair action we urgently need at the pace required. Join Stop Climate Chaos Scotland on Thursday 18 September, when hundreds of people from across Scotland will come together at the Scottish Parliament to meet with MSPs to call for urgent, fair climate action.
When and where?
- Thursday 18th September
- Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
Transcending Language Barriers (SIDA members only)
Communication is key to any working relationship to ensure mutual understanding, however when there is a barrier to communication, this can lead to frustration, friction and damaged relationships. Join us and Dr. Angela Crack of University of Portsmouth and Dr. Michael Chasukwa of University of Malawi both from the Translation Glossary Project for a webinar and Q&A to learn what decolonising communication while working with international partners and communities looks like in practice.
SIDA members, this is your space! If you would like to feature in upcoming newsletters, please get in touch with us anytime at admin@intdevalliance.scot.
FUNDING UPDATE OF THE MONTH
The Charles Hayward Foundation
The Charles Hayward Foundation are looking to allocate one-off grants of up to £15,000 to projects that improve the livelihoods of disadvantaged communities in African countries. Projects in the following sub-categories are encouraged to apply: clean water and sanitation; development of sustainable livelihoods in the context of environmental and wildlife conservation; self sustainability through training in farming skills and income generation activities. Applications close 19th September.
OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES
SIDA service Directory
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