International Development Fund cost: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
Details on how much is spent in overseas aid, what the aid is used for, and how much the aid costs for 2015-2019 and 2020-2015, detailing each year, country and what the aid was for.
You also separately asked for confirmation as to where this international aid budget comes from, whether it is U.K. or Scottish based.
Response
During the years on which you have sought details, the Scottish Government provided official development assistance (“ODA”) spend through a range of its International Development Fund, Humanitarian Emergency Fund, and Climate Justice Fund.
In answer to your first question, I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
Please note that some of the information you requested has not been provided. This is because under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. The information that this exemption is being applied to relates to overseas development spend in financial years 2017 to end of 2023. This information is already published:
A, in our series of Scottish Government Contribution to International Development Reports covering 2017-2023. These reports take a holistic look across Scottish Government development work and provide broken-down budget spend per year in relation to international development, humanitarian and climate justice initiatives. The most recent Contribution Report was published in June 2024. You can access the reports as follows -
- Contribution to international development report: 2017-2018:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/contribution-international-development-report-2017-18/pages/5/
- Contribution to international development report: 2018-2019:
- International Development 2019-2020: contribution report:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/contribution-international-development-report-2019-2020/
- Contribution to international development: report 2021 to 2023:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/contribution-international-development-report-20212023/, and
B, in previous FOIs, including this response by Scottish Government on 30 December 2024: International Development Fund costs: FOI release - gov.scot
If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
For years 2015 -17, please find attached two documents. Document 1 outlines spend on international development projects and humanitarian assistance, and Document 2 details spend on Climate Justice ODA spend and Water Governance ODA spend for this period.
For 2024, please find attached a document (Document 3) which outlines all ODA spend for 2024.
Figures for 2025 ODA spend had not yet been collated at the time of your request (7 February 2025), as spend for 2025 is not yet complete.
Scottish Government report their ODA annually to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and it is then included by the UK Government within its overall ODA return to the OECD and is counted by the UK towards its ODA commitments. Since 2018 Scottish Government has reported its ODA to UKG on a calendar year basis, in alignment with UKG’s own practice. FCDO are responsible for publishing ODA statistics for the for the whole United Kingdom, including Scottish Government. These statistics are badged as National Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. In advance of publication FCDO go through a rigorous quality assurance process.
However, data for 2024 should be considered management information as FCDO have not yet completed their quality assurance process. FCDO will publish provisional ODA statistics for 2024 in Spring 2025 and Final ODA statistics later in 2025.
The answer to answer your second question on whether money for the Scottish Government's international development programmes comes from the UK or Scottish Government budget, is that money for Scottish Government international development programmes and projects comes out of the Scottish Government budget.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG