Scottish Government launches third round of Small Grants Programme

We are delighted to inform members that the Scottish Government launched the third round of its Small Grants Programme on Saturday at the Malawi Independence Celebrations. The SMP strongly supports this programme which was created following requests from SMP and NIDOS members. The first two years of the programme are clearly having considerable impact in Malawi and we applaud the Scottish Government’s commitment to working with smaller and community-led organisations.

We very much encourage our members with a turnover of under £150,000 to apply. The closing date for applications is 25th November 2015, with decisions announced in March 2016.

Organisations can apply for one of three types of funding: Project, Feasibility and Capacity Building. Project funding is for specific activity; feasibility funding is used to research or pilot a new approach; and the capacity building grants are used to reinforce or expand existing projects.

The programme is now in its third year, and successful applicants in the past have ranged from a scheme to develop a phone based emergency response system to the training of 900 nurses.

Minister for International Development Mr Humza Yousaf said: "It has been incredible how many people have been involved in international development projects in some shape or form, many of them doing small scale projects.

"During our grant rounds, funds are usually given to large-scale NGOs, where the projects are on a different level and are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"What we do not want to do is send out a signal that we are not interested in the work that Scots have been doing across the country, and this fund is being made available to a whole range of small projects."

He added: "These projects have made a real difference in people's lives, often in some of the most difficult areas of the developing world.

"One which received £50,000 to work against infant mortality in India has been able to help more than 2,000 mothers. These projects have saved lives."

Awards are available to a maximum of £60,000 for project grants over a three year period, or a maximum of £10,000 for feasibility and capacity building grants that run over one year.

The Programme is specifically intended to accommodate smaller requests for funding to contribute to current the Scottish Government's International Development policies and goals. Projects must focus on Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Indian States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa to be eligible.

Click here for more details, and to apply.