In Scotland, SCIAF raises awareness of the underlying causes of global poverty and injustice, work that includes visiting schools.

[8] In 2015, as SCIAF marked their fiftieth anniversary, their international work included supporting almost 100 projects that provided emergency aid and assistance across at least fifteen countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

[11][12] As of 2022[update], outwith Scotland SCIAF are active in eight countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zambia, Cambodia and Colombia.

[15] SCIAF runs an annual Wee Box Big Change appeal, which encourages people to give up something for Lent and to use the money saved as a donation.

[21] SCIAF is one of nine partner organisations of Will Aid, the British will-writing scheme in which participating solicitors waive their usual fee to write a basic will and in exchange invite the client to donate to charity.