Overseas Aid & Development Commission supports Sustainable Development Goals

Thursday 25 September 2025

To mark Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Flag Day on 25 September, the Overseas Aid & Development Commission (OA&DC) is raising awareness of the work it does to contribute to achieving these global goals.

The UN Global Compact set 17 SDGs for organisations across the world to demonstrate their commitment to reducing poverty and improving the environment.

Each year, the OA&DC invites charities to apply for grants to help development and humanitarian work in the world's least developed countries. In 2025, the Commission awarded 49 Project Grant Aid Awards that meet 16 of the 17 SDGs. 16 of 17 SDG's were targeted 222 times through the 49 projects.

On average, each project meets four to five of these goals.

The SDGs that were most targeted are: Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), and Gender Equality (SDG 5).

Some examples of impactful projects:

• 'Podoconiosis (Podo) prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of patients in Southern Ethiopia', by the charity Ethiopiaid. The project will treat and rehabilitate 5,000 people living with this chronic disease that causes foot and leg swelling, with 100 health professionals being trained in specialist Podo treatment.
• 'Transforming communities through district-wide water and sanitation in Zambia', by the charity Village Water Ltd. The project will increase access to safe water for nine rural communities and one school, improving health through reductions in preventable waterborne diseases including diarrhoea and cholera.
• 'Enhancing women's livelihoods by increasing the economic value of shea in Burkina Faso', by the charity Shared Interest Foundation. 52% of residents live below the poverty line. Processing shea nuts into butter provides vital income, but manual production limits output. Training and equipment will increase production by 228% and monthly income by 45%. A new borehole will provide safe water access for 3,600 residents.

Deputy Jennifer Strachan, President of the Overseas Aid & Development Commission, said:

"On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations Global Compact and the tenth anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Commission wanted to highlight the work it does to progress these global goals. We are committed to support projects in some of the least developed countries to bring about change for local communities including improving health and education, improving economic growth and helping build a sustainable future. By providing something as simple as access to clean, safe water we make a tangible difference to people's lives and provide the community with the tools to thrive."

For more information about SDGs, go to: sdgs.un.org/goals

To learn more about the Overseas Aid & Development Commission, go to: gov.gg/overseasaid