Cross-Party Group on International Development publication on Scotland’s International Development Funding

The Cross-Party Group on International Development in the Scottish Parliament has published the findings of a review it conducted last year into spending on international development by the Scottish Government.

Scotland’s International Development Fund was launched by First Minister Jack McConnell in 2005, and since then more than £100 million has been committed to the Fund.  Ahead of the Fund’s 20^th anniversary, the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group (CPG) on International Development agreed in January 2024 to undertake an investigation into international development spending by the Scottish Government, with a view to considering its effectiveness in the communities and countries benefiting from the investment and to reflect on areas for potential improvement. SIDA provides secretariat support to the CPG and assisted with the evidence gathering and drafting of the report document, and has published the findings on its website.

The review makes a number of findings and recommendations, including:

• The Scottish International Development Fund is a positive force for good at a time of substantial need
• The Scottish Government should adopt the International Aid Transparency Index (IATI) standard as an efficient and globally recognised way to improve transparency
• The Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee should review the Scottish Government’s ODA spending every three years
• The Scottish Government should publish a new International Development Strategy to provide greater clarity on their chosen themes and localities, as well as their application processes

Members of the Scottish Parliament who are members of the Cross Party Group on International Development have agreed to publish the document containing the findings of the reflection exercise for consideration by the Scottish Government and other stakeholders. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the personal views of individual members, their political parties, stakeholders who have contributed to the review, or of the Scottish Government.

The full document and annexes can be found here.