International Development report

Thousands of people in some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities have benefited from Scottish Government international development work.

The Contribution to International Development 2018-19 report highlights collaboration at the heart of the international development strategy, projects delivered across ministerial portfolios and partnerships with other organisations.

Key achievements include:

• Police Scotland worked with officers in Malawi and Zambia to help tackle gender-based violence and improve child protection with £500,000 annual Scottish Government funding
• enrolling 1,144 pregnant women and new mothers in a safe motherhood outreach programme in Malawi, offering training on issues including healthy diet, breastfeeding and postnatal care
• funding school places for more than 2,000 children from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds in Pakistan
• training about 7,000 small holder farmers in Rwanda to use climate smart agricultural techniques to improve yields and build resilience to climate change

International Development Minister Ben Macpherson said:

 “We’re proud of the distinctive contribution that the Scottish Government, and Scotland as a whole, makes to international development.

“The achievements and statistics in this report demonstrate the positive difference that Scottish Government funding is making – whether it’s providing greater access to clean water, new opportunities in education, or improved medical screening. All of this has been achieved through a partnership approach, working together with various organisations, communities and individuals, to make a long-term, sustainable impact and improve peoples’ lives.

“Perhaps more than ever, it is important that Scotland continues to play an active role as a good global citizen, spreading our values of openness, internationalism and compassion, while helping vulnerable people around the globe.”

Background

The Contribution to International Development report was first published in 2018. It looks at a wide cross-section of Scottish Government international development activity, and presents it within the context of the UN Global Goals.