Minister visit to Southern Africa

International Development Minister, Ben Macpherson will visit Malawi to see the impact of Scotland’s longstanding partnerships. 

In his first visit to the country since being appointed to government, Mr Macpherson will visit a range of projects developed with partner organisations in Malawi which support women, tackle climate change and invest in new sustainable businesses.  

Alongside visits to Mary’s Meals and the Malawian Police College he will also see the way in which Scotland’s global health partnership which includes the NHS, Royal Colleges, the third sector, NGOs and academic institutions is helping to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and will also address the Malawi-Scotland Partnership Conference. 

Mr Macpherson will also visit projects in Zambia, including one funded through the joint programme with Comic Relief, Levelling the Field, which supports opportunities for young women and girls. 

The Scottish Government’s International Development Fund aims to support and empower some of the most vulnerable people in our partner countries. Our funding is awarded to a range of Scotland-based organisations carrying out work on the ground, in collaboration with local partners and with the support of local communities.  

The Minister’s engagements celebrate work to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals in UN Global Goals week. He said:

“I am delighted to be visiting Malawi to promote the long-standing friendship between our countries.

“For more than 150 years Scotland and Malawi have had a strong relationship built on a history of collaboration, particularly in health and education and more recently in the fields of climate change and gender equality. 

“We are determined to build on this strong relationship and that’s why we’re creating new opportunities to exchange skills, investment and trade between Scotland and Malawi, and our model of partnership demonstrates Scotland’s unique approach to international development and meeting the UN’s Global Goals. 

“Scotland’s historic connections with southern Africa go beyond Malawi and in recent years we have also begun to develop a relationship with Zambia, working with a range of organisations to build links, especially in the areas of healthcare and support for women. 

“Scotland has a longstanding global reputation in international development which all of Scotland can and should be proud of. Especially given that it’s UN Global Goals week, I’m really looking forward to seeing the positive impact that Scottish directly funded projects, civic society, charities and businesses are making, in helping to support some the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.”