Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund - SCIAF

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), established in 1965 as the official overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, combats global poverty and injustice through humanitarian relief, long-term development, education, and advocacy, guided by Catholic social teaching principles like solidarity, human dignity, preferential option for the poor, and partnership. Rooted in a partnership model with local NGOs and Caritas affiliates, SCIAF empowers marginalised communities worldwide—regardless of faith—to foster self-reliance, justice, and peace, blending emergency response with systemic change via its global Caritas network and Scottish public engagement campaigns like 'WEE BOX, BIG Change'.

SCIAF funds projects tackling hunger and livelihoods, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, education, health (including HIV/AIDS), humanitarian crises, gender equality, disability inclusion, and climate adaptation. It prioritises vulnerable groups such as conflict survivors (e.g., child soldiers, sexual violence victims), women, youth, people with disabilities, displaced families, and those facing famine or disease, supporting locally led initiatives like sustainable farming, skills training, trauma healing, advocacy, and reconstruction in eight focus countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zambia, Cambodia, and Colombia.

Eligible partners are pre-selected medium-to-large local NGOs, Caritas members, and church-based agencies with proven capacity for complex, multi-year projects; unsolicited applications are not accepted, with funding developed collaboratively via internal cycles tied to strategic plans and donor contracts—no public deadlines or open calls. Typical grants range from £50,000 to £500,000 (or more for multi-year, co-funded awards), focusing on restricted project costs rather than core funding.

SCIAF excludes activities contrary to Catholic doctrine and UK-based projects (Scotland activities emphasise advocacy, not grants). Its distinctive blend of faith-inspired ethics, rigorous safeguarding, locally rooted delivery, and integration of relief, development, and policy influence sets it apart for aligned international NGOs seeking substantial, partnership-driven support.