Listen
Malawi development funding
18/03/2010
More than £7 million development funding for Scottish organisations working to improve the quality of lives for people in Malawi has been announced.
Twenty one projects will receive funding over three years from the Scottish Government's International Development Fund. The successful projects target the priority areas set out in the Co-operation Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Government of Malawi. These are health, education, civil society and governance and sustainable economic development.
External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said:
"Scottish Government funds go directly to Scottish organisations who have demonstrated that they have the relevant skills, capacity and expertise to deliver services on the ground to the people of Malawi.
"Rigorous monitoring shows our funding is having a positive impact on the lives of Malawians and I was fortunate to witness this at first hand during my recent visit to the country.
"Scotland is a responsible nation and we will continue to help alleviate poverty in the developing world. We are working hard to help Malawians help themselves.
"During my visit I met many local people and the message was clear - our development fund is having a real and positive impact, empowering people to take control of their own welfare, education and economic security."
Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said:
"Oxfam is delighted to receive this funding from the Scottish Government to progress our vital and life-changing work in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world.
"When the Minister recently visited our programme in Chiradzulu, Southern Malawi, she saw for herself the difference Scottish aid makes to the lives of some of the world's poorest people.
"This funding will allow us to develop our projects there to work more directly with local women - many of whom have been affected by HIV and AIDS - to protect, promote and uphold their economic rights.
"The recession has hit harder in places like Malawi. Continued aid like this can often mean the difference between life and death, especially for women, the vast majority of whom live below the poverty line."
Andrew Ashe speaking on behalf of EuroTalk Ltd and the Scottish Malawi Foundation said:
"With this funding, we will be able to deliver a wide range of primary interactive video software to 50 rural schools in Malawi. Localised in Chichewa and Timbuka and running on handheld devices and mobile phones, this will provide vital support for the education of many thousands of Malawian children and we thank the Scottish Government for their support and encouragement."
Twenty one projects have been awarded £7.2 million over three years from the Scottish Government's International Development Fund (IDF). This new funding comprises of: £2.6 million (2010-11) £2.4 million (2011-2012) and £2.2 million (2012-13) bringing the Scottish Government's total Malawi commitments to £4.75 million in 2010-11.
In September 2009, the Scottish Government confirmed an increase in the budget for international development from £6 million to £9 million in 2010-11. A minimum of £3 million per year is ring-fenced for engagement with Malawi.
During her visit to Malawi, Ms Hyslop re-confirmed the Scottish Government's commitment to engagement with Malawi. She met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Development Planning and Co-operation and the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, as well as the Chief Secretary to the President & Cabinet. She also visited four projects supported by the SG which highlighted the strength of our approach and the impact our funding is having on people's lives. These projects included including Making Wonders (University of Strathclyde), Managing HIV in Malawi through Enterprise and Empowerment (Oxfam Scotland) Big Issue Malawi (International Network of Street Papers) and Capacity Building for Enterprise (the Scotland Malawi Building Group). The Minister also jointly hosted, with Karen Gillon MSP and Michael Matheson MSP, a governance workshop for MPs from the Malawi National Assembly.
The Minister will update MSP's today on her recent visit during a parliamentary debate on International Development in Malawi.