March 2025 News

Funding Updates | N ews & Views | Vacancies | Member Services

HEADLINES

Engage for impact and unite for change!

We are excited to announce that Kirsty Smith, Chair of Bond UK will be the headline speaker at our upcoming spring conference. There’s still time to sign up for the conference taking place next week, 1st April, in person at COSLA in Edinburgh and online.

UK Aid Cuts

Since our last update at the end of February, Prime Minister Kier Starmer announced plans to cut Official Development assistance (ODA) from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP by 2027 in order to finance the UK defence budget. We discuss what this means for the sector in this month’s Focus On: UK aid cuts, see below. In this article, SIDA members and development NGOs react to the Prime Minister’s announcement that ODA will be cut from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% by 2027.

Impact of the cuts

The announcement prompted the resignation of Anneliese Dodds MP as Minister for International Development and for Women and Equalities. In this article, SIDA CEO Frances Guy outlines how the UK could make the aid budget go further, despite the cuts, without dipping into public funds.

The wider context of USAID freeze

While it is still not clear exactly what the UK aid cuts will mean in practical terms, and how the government plans to reduce spending between now and 2027, the cuts will contribute to the broader picture set in motion by the USAID freeze. This article explores what the cuts might mean in financial terms.

Limiting the damage

Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development, share four ways the government can manage the planned UK aid cuts to limit their damage.

Water Witness at Our Blue World screening

Water Witness will be part of the panel discussion following the premiere screening of ‘Our Blue World’ at an event marking World Water Day, run by the Edinburgh Environment and Development Network this Thursday 27th March.

Scotland Malawi Partnership

Twenty years of partnerships and support from Scotland were marked by visitors from Malawi’s Kamuzu University of Health Sciences earlier this month.

Scotland renews Fair Trade Nation status

Scottish Fairtrade: Scotland has announced renewed status as a Fair Trade Nation, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to fairness, social justice, and ethical trade despite the challenges of recent years.

Find out more

Stop Climate Chaos campaigns for climate action

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is calling for the Scottish Government to take action on climate to get Scotland’s progress back on track.

Join the campaign

Apply here

HealthLink360 Job Vacancy

HealthLink360 are looking for a travel health nurse to join them on a part time basis. Applications close 1st April.

Gaia Education online course: Bioregioning in Practice

Gaia Education in partnership with The Bioregional Learning Alliance, invites you to Bioregioning in Practice—a unique online course featuring live sessions with world-renowned experts in bioregional regeneration. Course begins 21st April.

Learn more

Global Justice Now fossil fuel treaty event

Global Justice Now are holding an event, ‘Breaking Big Oil’s Grip: With the Founder of the Fossil Fuel Treaty’ on Saturday 5th April with Canadian environmental campaigner Tzeporah Berman.

SIDA UPDATES

Sudan / Humanitarian Emergencies Fund briefing

This month, SIDA held an online briefing together with the Disasters Emergency Committee, where Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Angus Robertson MSP announced an additional £400,000 funding will be made available to four SIDA members (Islamic Relief, Tearfund, Christian Aid and Oxfam) through the Humanitarian Emergencies Fund (HEF), to support their ongoing work responding to the crisis in Sudan and neighbouring countries.

Learn more

Last chance to join the SIDA Spring Conference 2025

Next week we gather in Edinburgh on 1st April for our 2025 Spring Conference! We're looking forward to collectively exploring how the sustainable development sector can bridge gaps in perception and inspire active participation. Entry is free for members with pricing options for non-members. Last chance to sign up!

Unlocking Funding: A New Guide to Trusts & Foundations

Navigating funding, especially in the current climate, can be a daunting task. SIDA has recognised this as an issue and so we have developed a ‘Trusts and Foundations’ guide launching soon to support members in this process. This webinar will explore the guide and its elements from where to start, to finding matches to preparing proposals and grant management.

Latest blog: Ethical and Responsible Donating

Did you know that up to 70% of donated equipment is non-operational? In our latest member blog, put together in collaboration with KidsOR, we share a case study on medical equipment best practices.

Read here

Stop the Scroll: How to make your work standout on socials

In this workshop led by Jeremy Skeet, digital storytelling expert, award winning journalist and former head of Social Media at BBC News, we'll explore practical, low-cost strategies to cut through the noise, build genuine connections, and hopefully inspire action.

Global citizenship: A key to transforming our work and impact

In our recent event led by Bobby McCormack, co-founder and CEO of Development Perspectives, we learnt more about how embracing global citizenship can transform our work and increase our impact.

Watch the recording

Share your services

SIDA Service Directory

Our Services Directory is a resource for organisations and individuals working in global sustainable development in Scotland. Listing your services is free for SIDA members, and £100 per listing for non-members.

SIDA annual survey prize winner

Thanks to all those who took part in our annual survey this year! We are pleased to announce that the winner of the prize draw is Rachel Farey from One World Shop. Rachel will receive a £100 EcoSwap gift card to be redeemed on a range of sustainable and ethical brands. Congratulations Rachel!

FUNDING UPDATE OF THE MONTH

Foreign Aid Bridge Fund

As a result of UK and US aid freezes and cuts, many of the world’s highest-impact frontline organizations have had to temporarily pause operations or reduce services to millions of people. Unlock Aid, in collaboration with several partners, has created an emergency fund to enable high-impact organisations with sustainable business models to get back to work and prevent unnecessary harm and disruption.