The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland and a member of the global Caritas family, has expressed serious concern over reductions to the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.

SCIAF has described the cuts as “cruel and devastating”, warning that they risk impacting some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, including women and girls, children, people with disabilities and those living in conflict-affected regions.

The charity has highlighted the potential consequences for programmes providing food, shelter, clean water and education in fragile contexts across Africa and Asia.

SCIAF works with communities in some of the world’s poorest countries, irrespective of race, religion or background, seeking to end poverty, protect our common home, and support recovery from disaster. It is urging the UK Government to reconsider the reductions and to renew its commitment to global solidarity and justice.

The full SCIAF statement can be read here:


SCIAF 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.