International development programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa are to receive £4 million worth of block grants over the next three years, the Scottish Government has announced.

Funded by the Scottish Government's International Development Fund, the grants will go towards aiding Scottish-based organisations working with partners in Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia and the Darfur region of Sudan.

The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani, commented: "I am delighted to be announcing this funding under our new Sub-Saharan Africa Development Programme. The programme will provide a stronger focus to work in four countries within Sub- Saharan Africa, and has been designed to achieve the greatest impact from our funding.

"These grants will fund programmes which have a significant impact in improving food security, healthcare provision and access to financial services for the poorest members of society in these countries."

Programmes that will receive support includes Opportunity International that improves access to financial services for the poorest in Tanzanian, Concern Worldwide which works on reducing deaths from malnutrition amongst under-fives in Zambia, and Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund that supports improved food security in Zambia.