What is the Global Solidarity Fund?

The fund supports organisations and communities to work in partnership with counterparts in the Global South to address shared global challenges and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Solidarity Fund has a particular focus on strengthening the capacity and impact of smaller organisations and community groups. It is designed to support capacity development by empowering small Scottish‑based civil society organisations (CSOs), social enterprises and local groups that operate on a not‑for‑profit basis. By providing targeted, accessible funding, GSF enables these organisations to develop, build meaningful international partnerships, and engage people across Scotland in global issues.

The fund aims to achieve this through three grant types, as outlined below:

• Scottish Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Strengthening Grant
• Global Citizenship Engagement Grant
• Shifting the Power Grant

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the Global Solidarity Fund, applicants must:

• Scottish Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Strengthening Grant:
  • Legally constituted SCIO or Scottish based company with charitable status with an annual income of less than £200k. Applicants must be working in a country with medium/low development status (UN Human Development Index)
• Global Citizenship Engagement Grant:
  • Legally constituted SCIO or Scottish based company with charitable status, social enterprise or unincorporated associations who operate on a not-for-profit basis, with an annual income of less than £200k.
• Shifting the Power Grant:
  • Legally constituted SCIO or Scottish based company with charitable status with an annual income of less than £200k. Application must be submitted with partners in Malawi, Zambia or Rwanda.

Organisations do not need previous experience of Scottish Government funding to apply, and first‑time applicants are welcome.

Before progressing, applicants should use Section A of the application form to check their eligibility. 

How to apply?

All applications to the Global Solidarity Fund must be submitted via Flexi-Grant.

Applicants must register before they can access the application form. Please see the Flexi-Grant Guidance for detailed information.

Once registered, applicants will be able to access the application form. A separate application form is available for each grant type, and applicants must ‘start’ an application to access the relevant resources and eligibility checks.

Before starting your application, please ensure you have read:

• Guidance for Applicants (with particular focus on the eligibility criteria)
• Guidance for Grantees
• Terms and Conditions
• Flexi-Grant Guidance