Applications are open for a £30m British overseas aid fund run by the Department for International Development and aimed at small and medium-sized charities.

The UK Aid Direct fund will be made available for charities working in the developing world. It has a focus on charities targeting the Millenium Development Goals, and will particularly welcome applications with a focus on sexual and reproductive heath and rights.

Grants of up to £250,000 will be made available to community partnerships and small UK-based non-profit organisations with an annual income of less that £1m a year for the past three years. These are expected to make up 10 per cent of the total.

Medium sized not-for-profit organisations can apply for impact grants between £250,000 and £4m, but must be able to raise at least 25 per cent match funding in order to be eligible.

The first stage of applications must be submitted on 21 November 2014.

The application process is designed to support smaller NGOs, and will offer "a tailored advice and guidance service" to those applying for DfID funding for the first time, the department said.

A new online ‘funding finder’ tool will also make it even easier for organisations to identify funding opportunities.

Greening launched the UK Aid Direct fund in Cardiff, during the first of a series of nationwide roadshows to encourage smaller charities to apply. “I am proud that Britain already supports hundreds of small and medium-sized UK charities whose vital work is improving lives across the world,” said Greening.
 
“British expertise is getting children into school, fighting deadly diseases and helping people earn a living in some of the world’s poorest places. The launch of UK Aid Direct means we can work hand in hand with fantastic smaller charities that have a unique ability to identify needs, build relationships and tackle specific issues at a grassroots level.”