“At our last interaction, I accepted the designation of Honorary Co-Patron of the Scotland Malawi Partnership, and so in that capacity, I wish to thank the Scottish Government for always honouring the fact that the bond between our two countries extends wider than the framework of partnership between our governments.  

I find great encouragement in the Scottish Government’s efforts to go beyond supporting direct projects operating in Malawi, by also continuing to support and fund the Scotland Malawi Partnership in Scotland and the Malawi Scotland Partnership in Malawi. This support ensures that the civic links between our countries goes from strength to strength.  

In turn, the SMP is able to continue its work of supporting all the different links between our countries, which includes ensuring that all efforts are coordinated and, crucially, that Scotland’s efforts in Malawi are always led by Malawi’s priorities, not its own. This is why the Scotland-Malawi Partnership Principles, which underpin all the work we do together, not only have my full endorsement, but are also worthy of emulation in bilateral relations between nations in the Global North and nations in the Global South.”  

H.E. Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi, addressing the SMP AGM 9th October 2021.