Swinney to visit Malawi and Zambia as Scotland marks 20-year partnership

John Swinney will travel to Zambia and Malawi for a five-day visit to see the impact of Scottish development work over the past two decades.

The First Minister will mark the 20-year anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme during the visit, travelling to Africa next Tuesday.

It is the first time a First Minister has visited Malawi since a partnership agreement was signed in 2005.

Various Scottish charities and public bodies are involved in a number of development programmes in Malawi.

It will also be the first ever visit of a First Minister to Zambia, and there Mr Swinney will see projects which deal with the impact of climate change.

Speaking ahead of his visit, he said: “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 a transformative impact on communities.

“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.

“Our funding has helped to build operating rooms for children’s hospitals, establish research labs, advance gender equality, support renewable energy initiatives, and ensure children – in particular girls – can attend school.

“At a time when governments across the world are cutting aid programmes overseas, internationalism, and international solidarity, has never been more important.

Linda Dembo, chief executive of the Malawi Scotland Partnership, said: “We are deeply honoured to welcome the First Minister of Scotland to Malawi for a visit that not only strengthens our enduring friendship, but also marks 20 years of transformative partnership through Scottish Government international development support.”