“It’s not fair! Those hurdles are way too high!”, says former Olympic and Commonwealth athlete Catherine Chiwakwa Chunda, as the athletics events kick off in Glasgow.
Catherine represented her home nation of Malawi in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the Commonwealth Games and now calls Scotland home. The former long-distance runner says action is needed to fix the unfair debts faced by one in three Commonwealth nations.
She’s now working with SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, and they set up a hurdles race to highlight the issue.
She said: “Commonwealth countries like my homeland of Malawi face the constant hurdle of debt and it’s getting worse every year. They need to pay debts back at a much higher rate, meaning there’s little left to spend on things like health and education.
“For those representing rich countries like Scotland and England, the hurdles were tiny. No problem to overcome.
“The hurdles represent unjust debt. And it’s not hard to imagine what happened: higher hurdles for many of SCIAF’s partner countries made it impossible to run a fair race.
“Removing obstacles for countries like Malawi and Zambia so they can use the money they have to get more children into school, access to healthcare and ensure families get support to have food on the table, is vital.”
Action urged on global debt and sustainable development
The Scottish Government, Malawi and Zambia are calling on Commonwealth countries to work together to tackle the global debt crisis and give Global South countries a stronger voice in international financial decision-making.
A joint statement calls for urgent reforms to the international debt system, including:
fast and fair debt restructuring that helps countries resolve debt problems before they become crises
a new international framework, led by the UN or another global body, to help countries resolve debt problems more fairly and efficiently
new debt legislation ensuring private lenders share the burden of debt restructuring fairly with other creditors
improved access to financial help for climate projects
It highlights growing concern that unsustainable debt repayments are limiting the ability of many countries in the Global South to invest in essential public services, climate resilience and economic development.
Announcing the joint statement at a reception celebrating Scotland’s longstanding relationship with Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda, First Minister John Swinney said: “During my visit to Malawi and Zambia, I met communities who are taking control of their lives and livelihoods through Scottish Government supported, community-led climate resilience programmes, and I learned first-hand about the impact that both debt and climate injustice can have on communities.
“Across the Commonwealth unsustainable debt repayments are consuming resources that should be used to build schools, hospitals, and climate-resilient infrastructure, and climate change is exacerbating this problem. The Global South should not be forced to choose between repaying their creditors and helping their communities to recover from storms and droughts.
“The Scottish Government is committed to working with our partners across the Global South on a fair, long-term solution to the global debt crisis and supporting debt solutions that allow countries to invest in people, public services and climate resilience.”
Malawian High Commissioner to the UK His Excellency Dr Thomas Bisika said: “Where Malawi stands now, debt relief needs to be considered seriously as the ameliorative effects of debt restructuring have been very minimal and inconsistent at best.
“We also need debt reforms that improve access to emergency liquidity before, during and after climate disasters.”
Zambian High Commissioner to the UK Her Excellency Macenje Mazoka said: “Zambia welcomes this important joint statement and the spirit of solidarity it reflects.
“Our experience has shown that debt justice is not only about easing immediate pressures, but about creating a fairer international system that allows countries to invest in their people, strengthen resilience, and pursue sustainable development.
“We look forward to working with Commonwealth partners to advance reforms that ensure debt solutions are timely, fair, and climate-responsive.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund Lorraine Currie said: “Bringing diplomats, campaigners and academics together for the roundtable on debt justice was a powerful reminder that real progress begins with listening to those most affected and acting alongside them.
“The energy and unity in the room showed what genuine partnership can unlock. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for convening this vital conversation and for keeping debt justice high on Scottish, UK and global agendas.”
The statement was agreed earlier this week by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin, Zambian High Commissioner to the UK Her Excellency Macenje Mazoka and Malawian High Commissioner to the UK His Excellency Dr Thomas Bisika.
The Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrew’s Diocese Leo Cushley, together with Scotland’s other Bishops, has given his blessing to SCIAF’s WEE BOX annual fundraising appeal and the issue of access to safe water.
SCIAF – the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund – is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Compelled by Christ’s love, it works with those in the world’s poorest places to end poverty, protect our common home, and help people recover from disaster. SCIAF inspires loving action in the Scottish Catholic community to sustain its work.
Staff from SCIAF visited the Bishops as they gathered for regular conference at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centre.
Chief executive Lorraine Currie said: “We are so grateful to the Bishops of Scotland and Catholics across the country for their support already this Lent. Our supporters in Scotland are so generous and their support for people living in poverty around the world is really overwhelming.
“This year’s WEE BOX campaign aims to highlight the issue of access to clean water and the transformational work that SCIAF supporters are funding. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water close to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It was amazing to see the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.”
Bishop Brian McGee is SCIAF’s Bishop President. He said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water? We are so lucky here in Scotland and we just take it for granted that the water from our taps will always be there.
“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this. Please give what you can.”
Please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.
For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox.
To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.
Two charities are to receive funding to help people in Malawi facing food shortages as a result of prolonged dry spells and widespread flooding.
Tearfund and SCIAF will receive £400,000, which will be split equally between them and delivered through Scotland’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) to help address the humanitarian crisis which has seen widespread crop failure and livestock losses as a result of the climate-shocks.
The funding will allow the two charities to distribute cash to people in the affected areas to meet their immediate food and basic needs. It will also allow the charities to deliver training on cholera prevention, safe water usage and hygiene practices to combat the risk of cholera.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The widespread flooding has killed and displaced many people and exacerbated ongoing food insecurity for millions of people.
“This funding will help support people and businesses directly at a local level – where it is needed – by empowering them to buy food and supplies.”
SCIAF’s Chief Executive Lorraine Currie said: “We secured this funding to support Malawian families suffering from the combined challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate-related shocks.
“Since the onset of rains in November 2025, the country has been hit by floods, leading to deaths, displaced families, and damage to crops.
“A number of households are experiencing malnutrition, particularly children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding mums. These people urgently require immediate, life-saving assistance to prevent a catastrophe.
“This funding comes at a time when many governments are turning their backs on people suffering from hunger, poverty and injustice around the world. Scotland continues to be a good global citizen. The funding means that we can reach out to over 3100 families with cash grants and much needed high-calorific food such as fortified corn soy blend. It’s literally a life-saver.”
Vincent Moyo, Tearfund Country Director for Malawi, said: “Communities in Nkhotakota are facing an extremely difficult and uncertain period. Repeated flooding and prolonged dry spells have destroyed crops, reduced incomes, and pushed many families to the brink as the lean season intensifies.
“With very limited assistance currently reaching these areas, households are being forced to skip meals and sell the little household assets they have just to survive.
“This project will provide a vital lifeline at a critical moment – enabling families to meet their most urgent food and basic needs with dignity, while also reducing the risk of cholera through targeted health and hygiene awareness.
“It will help stabilise households’ livelihoods now and prevent an even deeper crisis in the months ahead.”
Aid cuts, brought in by the UK Government exactly a year ago have been labelled “cruel and devastating” by a leading Scottish charity.
SCIAF – the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund – has hit out at a decision in 2025 to cut the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 0.5% to 0.3% by 2027 – set to be the steepest reduction of any G7 country.
SCIAF’s CEO Lorraine Currie said: “Quite simply these cuts hit the most vulnerable people in the world the hardest. They are cruel and devastating.
“Much needed aid programmes in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected countries across Africa and Asia are at risk of closure. People will die as a result.
“These cuts were made without warning, preparation or consultation with organisations like SCIAF – charity experts who have daily dealings with overseas partners who know the reality on the ground. These cuts mean fewer families in conflict zones able to access shelter, food and water, and fewer children able to go to school.”
UK aid represents a tiny proportion of public spending yet delivers significant return on investment by preventing diseases before they become pandemics, reducing conflict and crises that force people to flee, and strengthening global stability to protect people in the UK and around the world.
Lorraine added: “The UK government’s own Equalities Impact Assessment of the 2025/26 cuts confirms that women and girls, people with disabilities, children and people affected by conflict, will be hardest hit. This decision will arguably have the most damaging global consequences of any this UK government will make.
“With a significantly reduced UK aid budget, the government must step up its ambitions around global financial sector reform and help build a fairer economic system that enables lower income countries to invest in their own sustainable development.
“The UK’s upcoming G20 leadership offers a critical window to advance this agenda, rebuild damaged partnerships, and re-establish the UK as a trusted global partner.”
SCIAF, together with a number of different UK charities is urging the UK Government to reverse the cuts. It has signed up to a letter from BOND – the UK network for organisations working in international development.
BOND includes over 330 organisations, ranging from small specialist charities to large international NGOs with a worldwide presence.
Fortunately, most of us don’t have to climb a hill to brush our teeth in the morning. But that’s exactly what Bishop Brian McGee did to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water.
Bishop Brian is SCIAF’s Bishop President and cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.
Bishop Brian said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?
“This year our WEE BOX Appeal focusses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.
“Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce. In Ethiopia far too many women, girls and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.
“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.
“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.”
Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.
Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict and the climate emergency.
Bishop Brian added: “I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives.
“Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.
“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”
This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.
He was the biggest Traitor, but now faithful Harry Clark is laying down a mission of his own – to help fight poverty.
Harry – the winner of series 2 of the hit BBC show The Traitors – is backing SCIAF’s ‘Big Lent Walk for Water’ which asks people to walk to Walk for Water in return for donations to its WEE BOX Appeal.
Harry said: “We filmed The Traitorsupin Scotland, so I’m proud to support SCIAF’s Big Lent Walk for Water this Lent. Raise money for an incredible cause and explore this beautiful country on foot. Get involved today … and be a Faithful!”
SCIAF’s Lorraine Currie said: “In the places SCIAF works, like Ethiopia, women and young girls and boys walk for miles every day to collect water for their families. This Lent, you can stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world by walking with them during our Big Lent Walk for Water.
“Commit to a distance, contact your friends and family for sponsorship, then commence your walking challenge!
“Money raised will help keep hope flowing in the places SCIAF works, helping provide life essentials like food, shelter, healthcare and clean water.
“Instead of walking miles every single day, women, young girls and boys can have access to safe, clean water sources closer to home, affording them the time to invest in educational opportunities to build a better future.”
If you want to be a SCIAF faithful, all you need to do is sign up at:
To find out more, you can call 0141 354 5555. If you’re taking part as a school or parish group, you can email getinvolved@sciaf.org.uk and if you’re walking it yourself you can contact Catriona at cmunro@sciaf.org.uk.
SCOTLAND’s Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin will continue to push for more ambitious climate action when she attends the COP30 UN Climate Summit in Brazil this month.
In recognition of Scotland’s leadership positions as Regions4 President and European co-chair of the Under2 Coalition, Ms Martin’s schedule will include engagements with member representatives from both organisations – to help strengthen the influence of devolved, state and regional governments within international climate discussions.
Ms Martin will also:
Share learning from Climate Justice Fund programmes, including the often-overlooked non-economic impacts of climate change, such as loss of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge
Take part in panel sessions on climate justice and human mobility with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Meet with youth activists and civil society partners from the global south, including participants in Climate Just Communities Programmes, to hear first-hand how they are being impacted by climate change
Ms Martin said: “We have a unique opportunity as Under2 European co-chair and Regions4 president, to champion the essential work taking place across the globe to support vulnerable communities who are at most risk from the impacts of climate change.
“I will continue to use these leadership positions at COP30 to advocate for accelerated action to tackle the devastating impacts of our warming planet, and for greater inclusion in international climate discussions.
“Scotland’s commitment to ending our contribution to global emissions by 2045 at the latest is ambitious, but it is achievable. We will shortly be publishing our draft Climate Change Plan setting out the policies needed to meet our first three carbon budget targets, while supporting people to adjust to the changes required.”
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) Advocacy and Communications Manager Line K. Christensen said: “It is vital that Scotland has a strong voice at COP30.
“The challenges we face are global, and Scotland’s presence ensures that our values of innovation and climate justice are part of the international conversation.
“The Cabinet Secretary’s participation will allow Scotland to continue its leadership on Loss and Damage, and to demonstrate that we are a nation standing shoulder to shoulder with countries around the world on the frontline of the climate crisis.”
First Minister announces boost for humanitarian aid
First Minister John Swinney has announced an additional £300,000 funding will be provided to support humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal and Scottish charities, SCIAF and Mercy Corps.
This funding, delivered through the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund programme, will help provide urgent assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict, including food, clean water, medical care, and shelter for displaced individuals in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
The announcement was made by the First Minister during a parliamentary debate on the international situation in which he also called for Scotland to champion the benefits of international trade, cooperation, and solidarity during this period of international turbulence.
The First Minister said: “I’m pleased to announce a contribution of £240,000 through our Humanitarian Emergency Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal for the Middle East, along with £30,000 each for Scottish charities, SCIAF and Mercy Corps for their responses in Lebanon and Syria.
“This is in addition to the £250,000 that we provided to this appeal last November and comes at a time when humanitarian needs continue to increase across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
“I believe that wherever we can, we do what is within our power to de-escalate and support recovery from disaster and conflict in our deeply interconnected world.
“Investing in the wellbeing of the international community is also an investment in our national wellbeing and security and I make no apology for doing so in these turbulent times.”
The First Minister added: “At a time when the US, the UK and other donors have slashed their aid budgets, we in Scotland are committed to continuing to support our Global South partner countries, and more widely to responding to humanitarian emergencies globally.
“Though we recognise the amounts Scotland contributes may be small in the face of growing need, we will do all we can to ensure it has maximum impact. Scotland will continue to act as a good global citizen.”
DEC spokesperson Huw Owen said: “This additional donation to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal from the Scottish Government through its Humanitarian Emergency fund is hugely welcome.
“The Appeal has now raised close to £4 million here in Scotland, over £45 million UK wide, which also includes many generous individual donations from the public. We are hugely grateful for this support.
“It will bolster DEC charities and their expert local partners’ continuing efforts in Gaza and the wider region, working in incredibly challenging circumstances, to reach the most affected communities with medical care, food and clean water as well as psychological support for traumatised children and their families.”
Humanitarian needs across the Middle East continue to escalate, with nearly half of the population of Gaza facing emergency levels of food insecurity and water, shelter and medicine in desperately short supply. By providing this funding, the DEC and its member charities can ensure that when the current blockade of Gaza is finally lifted, those needs can be addressed without delay.
The DEC appeal for the Middle East launched on 17 October 2024 and the Scottish Government’s previous contribution of £250,000 supported DEC and partner organisations in delivering humanitarian aid across the region.
Since the appeal’s launch, generous donations from the public have helped deliver lifesaving assistance, and further contributions remain essential to sustain these efforts.
Emergency donation of £250,000 to support relief efforts
Humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East will receive funding of £250,000 in response to a Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal.
DEC, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and Mercy Corps will use the funding to support humanitarian activities as the situation in the region continues to deteriorate.
£200,000 will contribute to a fund shared between DEC’s 15 member organisations helping to provide food, water, medical assistance and shelter to displaced people in the region. SCIAF and Mercy Corps will each receive £25,000 to support aid activities.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Thousands of innocent people have been killed in the crisis in the Middle East, with millions more displaced and left without certainty about how to access to shelter, food, clean water and medical care.
“The humanitarian crisis in the Middle East continues to deepen and spread, and an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of conflict is needed to prevent more innocent lives being lost and bring an end to the unimaginable suffering this conflict has caused.
“Urgent humanitarian aid must be provided to all those who need it, and this contribution from the Scottish Government will assist the Disasters Emergency Committee, SCIAF and Mercy Corps in ensuring it reaches as many people as possible. Members of the public can also pledge support and make donations to the DEC Appeal in a variety of ways and I would urge everyone to consider donating if they are in a position to do so.”
The DEC appeal for the Middle East launched today (17 October 2024).
Details are available on the DEC website for how to donate to the Appeal.
