The head of the U.K.’s aid agency announced the first ever challenge fund exclusively for small charities, as well as a new capacity building initiative to help boost public trust in the third sector during a wide-ranging speech to civil society groups.
Speaking at the annual Bond conference in London on Monday, international development secretary Priti Patel also emphasized Britain’s role as a global leader in development and said the country should exert its influence to encourage other governments not to “turn your back on the world.”
The minister said the small charities challenge fund would be launched this summer to provide financing to U.K.-registered civil society groups operating overseas with an annual income of less than 250,000 pounds. These groups have traditionally missed out on opportunities to work with the Department for International Development, she said. Charities can apply for grants of up to 50,000 pounds and the fund will have a total budget of 4 million pounds over next two years.