Scotland has committed to disburse 11 million pounds (about K11.3 billion) to various civil society organisations (CSOs) it works with to undertake projects aimed at achieving local and international development goals.
Malawi-Scotland Partnership board chairperson Ann Phoya made the announcement at a news conference in Lilongwe yesterday ahead of a high-level conference on Malawi and Scotland this weekend under the theme Together for Sustainable Development.
She said: “This funding will assist Malawi in realising both her local goals as well as the global goals. The dignified two-way partnership between Scotland and Malawi is underpinned by mutual respect and understanding, which continues to inspire hundreds of churches, schools, hospitals, universities, businesses and NGOs.”
Phoya said the beneficiary projects would be unveiled at the conference which will have three core areas of priority, namely United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, safeguarding and youth participation.
Scotland Minister of European, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson, who is on a visit to Malawi, said there are no conditions attached to the money that has been given to the country.
Following concerns over public finance management after revelations of Cashgate—the abuse of public resources at Capital Hill—in September 2013, development partners withdrew direct budget support to Malawi. Since then, the country has struggled to balance its national budgets, resorting to domestic borrowing.
On the funds, the Scottish minister said the funds will not be given directly to Malawi Government, but CSOs.
He said the funds will be disbursed over a four-year period from October 5 this year.
Besides attending the conference, the visiting minister will also visit projects run by the Scottish government, among them the Fistula Freedom Project at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
The Malawi and Scotland partnership dates back to 160 years ago. n
