Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of small international development charities on (1) the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and (2) furthering the international reputation of the UK and its contribution to overseas development.

Through FCDO's UK Aid Direct programme, we have a portfolio of 89 live grants to small international development charities (those with an annual income under £250,000); who are contributing to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. As of August 2020, 54 of the small international charities supported through the Small Charities Challenge Fund (SCCF) had reached 197,411 beneficiaries, in 22 developing countries, 53% of whom were women. The FCDO's funding to small charities supports building the capacity of small charities in order for them to continue their work after the funding is over. We also recognise the important role they play in raising awareness in the UK of the issue of global poverty and the role UK Aid can play.

The first round of SCCF grants are currently coming to an end and the FCDO will assess their achievements against agreed outcomes and numbers of beneficiaries supported; their overall impact, the strengths and challenges of delivering projects through small charities as well as the lessons that can be learnt from their approaches. This will contribute to our understanding of their contribution to furthering the reputation of the UK and its contribution to overseas development.