Scottish Government
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Support for Sub-Saharan Africa
Grants worth £4 million have been awarded to a range of international development programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The funding, from the Scottish Government's International Development Fund, will be allocated over three years to Scottish-based organisations working with partners in Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia and the Darfur region of Studan. The grants amount to £1 million per country over three years.
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani said:
"I am delighted to be announcing this funding under our new Sub-Saharan Africa Development Programme. The programme will provide a stronger focus to work in four countries within Sub- Saharan Africa, and has been designed to achieve the greatest impact from our funding.
"These grants will fund programmes which have a significant impact in improving food security, healthcare provision and access to financial services for the poorest members of society in these countries.
"The economic downturn is being felt across the world, and we have identified interventions to stimulate growth and help Scottish families and businesses. So it is particularly pertinent that the Tanzanian programme being run by Opportunity International is aimed at helping those in greatest need to access financial services to help them drive their own sustainable economic growth.
"We are providing financial support to Scottish-based organisations which already operate with established partners in these countries, making them best placed to deliver these programmes effectively and efficiently. Our funding will enable these organisations to widen the geographical spread of existing programmes, and in other cases to increase the scope and impact of work they are already undertaking.
"We are pleased to have had such a range of high-quality applications for funding. It is heartening to see so much development work being undertaken by so many Scottish organisations right across Sub-Saharan Africa."
Overview of supported programmes:
- Opportunity International (UK): to increase access to financial services for the poorest members of Tanzanian society, particularly those normally excluded from formal financial services.
- Concern Worldwide: working with partners in Rwanda on a programme to reduce the morbidity and mortality of children under five with acute malnutrition.
- The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF): to support improved food security and household incomes in Zambia, while working with communities to build their resilience to climate change.
- Tearfund: to address the basic needs of local and displaced people in the Ed Daein region of Darfur with a programme integrating food security, nutrition and public health.
The Scottish Government doubled the International Development Fund to £6 million, providing support to many of the poorest countries in the world. This will increase to £9 million in 2010-11.
The International Development Policy comprises six distinct elements:
- Malawi Development Programme
- Sub-Saharan Africa Development Programme - comprising block grants for Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Sudan
- Fair Trade Scotland Programme
- Core Funding for Scottish-Based Networking Organisations
- Responses to International Humanitarian Disasters
- Indian Subcontinent Development Programme
Delivery of the International Development Policy is supported by the International Development Fund. As previously announced the total allocation per financial year will be as follows:
- 2008-09 - £6 million
- 2009-10 - £6 million
- 2010-11 - £9 million
At least £3 million per year is ring-fenced from within this allocation for Scotland's engagement with Malawi. The latest round of funding for Malawi development work was announced on October 27, 2008.
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