Scottish First Minister (FM) John Swinney is set to visit Malawi to gauge the impact of the Scottish Government’s international development and climate justice work.
Speaking ahead of the visit, he said he would visit Malawi next Friday.
Swinney said the trip is part of efforts to gauge the impact of Scotland-sponsored initiatives on the lives of people, adding that initiatives being targeted span 20 years.
The FM will be on a tour of Zambia and Malawi, starting with Zambia on Tuesday, October 14.
This will be the first time a First Minister has visited Malawi since the historic Co-operation Agreement between the governments of Scotland and Malawi in 2005, and the first ever visit to Zambia.
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Swinney said at a time governments across the world are cutting aid programmes overseas, internationalism and international solidarity have never been more important.
He said Scotland would continue to stand with members of the international community and to do its bit for a fairer, more equal world.
“The 20-year anniversary of our overseas development programme is a landmark that we should be proud of. We have seen how working together with our partner countries to better understand their challenges can have transformative impact on communities.
“Current global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, conflict, poverty and inequality can only be addressed if the Global South and North work together.
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“Through that partnership approach, Scotland is both contributing globally and learning from our partners– for example, providing joint leadership on climate justice, including loss and damage, and by focusing investment in traditionally neglected areas such as non-communicable diseases and disability education,” Swinney said.
He observed that Scottish Government funding has helped to build operating rooms for children’s hospitals, establish research laboratories, advance the cause of gender equality, support renewable energy initiatives and ensure that children, in particular girls, can attend school.
Meanwhile, Malawi Scotland Partnership Chief Executive Officer Linda Dembo has said her organisation is honoured to welcome Swinney to Malawi for a visit that not only strengthens the countries’ enduring friendship but also marks 20 years of transformative partnership through Scottish Government international development support.
“This milestone is a celebration of shared values, mutual respect and the countless lives uplifted through collaboration. We, at the Malawi Scotland Partnership, remain committed to deepening these ties and amplifying the impact of our collective efforts,” Dembo said.
