This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland and Africa
29/04/2005
Scotland's world-class reputation for healthcare and
education can help tackle extreme poverty in Malawi and
other African nations, International Development Minister
Patricia Ferguson said today.
The expertise, together with the Executive's £3 million
a year International Development Fund, will enhance
Scotland's contribution to the development of sub-Saharan
Africa.
Speaking ahead of the Scotland-Malawi Partnership
conference in Glasgow, Ms Ferguson said:
"As a prosperous country, Scotland has a responsibility
to make a difference to the lives of people blighted by
extreme poverty in Malawi and other African nations.
"Our international development strategy is about making
the best use of Scotland's strengths - the knowledge,
experience, and professionalism of our Non-Government
Organisations, our academic institutions and others.
"The remarkable response to the Asian tsunami showed
that the people of Scotland want to play their part in
responding to the needs of their fellow human beings who
suffer.
"The UK Government has already stated that Africa will
be high on the agenda of the G8 summit in July. As the
world's leaders descend on Gleneagles we will showcase the
practical steps being taken to deliver on our international
development policy.
"The First Minister will travel to Malawi next month to
strengthen the ties between our nations. He will meet
Malawian leaders and reinforce our commitment to a
productive on-going relationship with Malawi."
The First Minister launched the Executive's
international development policy paper on March 15.
Sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Malawi, together with
those areas affected by the Tsunami, will be a key focus of
the policy for that has had £3 million a year allocated to
it.
The First Minister, who welcomed a group of African
journalists to the Parliament on Thursday, announced in
October that the Executive will help Scottish
non-government organisations target their overseas work. He
announced that the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport,
Patricia Ferguson, will have specific responsibility to
co-ordinate the government's efforts in this area.
The Scotland-Malawi Partnership emerged out of the
successful Malawi Millennium Project of Strathclyde
University. The priorities of the Partnership will be
capacity building in the fields of health, education,
water/sanitation and special projects aimed at breaking the
poverty cycle, providing famine relief and improving the
quality of life for families in Malawi.
The Partnership seeks to enhance co-operation between
Scotland and Malawi, and act as an umbrella organisation,
bringing together local and national organisations already
working in Malawi.