BIG International strategic programme

• Poverty
• education
• HIV
• International strategic programme

BIG will award grants of between £1million and £5million for development work that has a particular focus of improving mother and child health, measures to prevent HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impact and education with an explicit focus on girls.

Under Round Two we will make £15 million available to fund projects that aim to deliver one or more of the following outcomes:

• Improved mother and child health
• Improved primary education, with a specific focus on girls
• Improved measures to prevent HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impact

Organisations applying to the reopened Big Lottery Fund’s International Strategic programme will aim to tackle the causes of poverty and deprivation and bring real changes to the lives of the most disadvantaged people in the developing world.

They will specifically target geographical areas that are unlikely to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals: Sub-Saharan Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and certain Indian states namely:  Assam, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharastra, Madya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Jharkand.

Big Lottery Fund Chair, Sir Clive Booth, said:

“I am pleased to say that BIG continues its commitment to supporting the most marginalized communities across the world, as we today open for applications to Round Two of the International Strategic programme. Strategic Grants will fund projects that address issues that are fundamental to improving the lives of the most disadvantaged people in developing countries.“

Full details can be found at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or you can email enquiries.international@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Full guidance and application forms can be found at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_international_strategic_guide.pdf

There is a two stage application system.
The deadline for stage one is 15 February 2008.
Stage two bids have to be in by 31 October 2008.