SCCF announces £50,000 funding for Bees for Development charity

This funding will train beekeepers and start new beekeeping businesses in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

On 27 July it was announced that Bees for Development based in Monmouth, Wales had been awarded £50,000 through the Small Charities Challenge Fund (SCCF).

This funding will train beekeepers and start new beekeeping businesses in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

Penny Mordaunt, International Development Secretary said, "Small, UK-based charities up and down the country, often staffed by volunteers, are incredibly valuable in making a difference around the world. DFID’s Small Charities Challenge Fund celebrates their innovative work in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Bees for Development is a great example of how a small community in Wales is helping to make a huge difference in Ethiopia. They are providing an invaluable entrepreneurial experience to young people, helping them thrive and support their own community.”

Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales said, "I am delighted that the hard work of Welsh charities such as Bees for Development is being rewarded for the international impact they have in encouraging entrepreneurship in a way that protects our environment. I hope that the funds awarded will go a long way to continue the great work they do across Ethiopia.”

The Bees for Development Ethiopian project has 4 aims:

• to deliver beekeeping training to vulnerable communities to build sustainable and resilient livelihoods
• to help beekeepers secure the best value for their bee produce by accessing strong market chains, which are fair and rewarding
• to ensure that honey bee populations thrive from environmental protection
• to enable beekeepers to access high quality, relevant information about methods, market opportunities, and policy development

Dr. Nicola Bradbear, Director of Bees for Development said, "Bees for Development helps the poorest people earn extra income through beekeeping. We are a specialist organization, with a niche set of skills. This grant from the Small Charities Challenge Fund will enable us to help families in Ethiopia keep bees profitably, so they can earn extra income to buy school uniforms, pay medical costs, buy food and pay off debts.”

All SCCF projects are chosen for their ability to strengthen the capacity of grassroots development organizations working with the most marginalized to ensure that no one is left behind.

More Small Charities Challenge Fund grant holders are expected to be announced in September, delivering projects on disability, education, health, livelihoods, social protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

SCCF is a rolling funding opportunity – applications are reviewed on a 6-monthly basis with the closing date for the third review of proposals on Thursday 27 September 2018 at 17:00 GMT.