Scotland Malawi Partnership: 2018-2019 highlights

The Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) had another busy and productive period between April 2018 and March 2019.

With Scottish Government core funding, the SMP was able to support hundreds of individual community-led partnerships.

From welcoming His Excellency, Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi, to the UK and helping to support a fast, coordinated and effective response to Cyclone Idai, another key moment included the co-hosting of a national conference in Lilongwe with the Malawi Scotland Partnership (MaSP) which brought together 350 key stakeholders to discuss the next chapter of bilateral cooperation.

David Hope-Jones, SMP Chief Executive, said: “Successive Scottish Governments are to be applauded for their far-sighted commitment to supporting Scotland’s wider civic involvement in international development through the core funding of key networks.

“This people-led approach has allowed Scotland to make a genuinely remarkable contribution. Put simply, the SMP could not do what it does without the kind and continued support of the Scottish Government.”

• Hosted 37 events attended by 2,252 people, and co-hosted or supported a further 43 engagements attended by 4,595.
  
• Supported extensive media engagement, with 262 features on Malawi in the Scottish media, of which more than 92% were positive in tone, with over 48 million opportunities to view.
  

• Had over 1.1 million impressions on social media, raising awareness of the positive impact of Scotland’s friendship with Malawi.
  
• Supported the Presidential visit, hosting an event celebrating civic and youth links, and publishing a book for the President profiling 60 civic links.

• Co-hosted a national conference in Lilongwe bringing together 350 key stakeholders to discuss the next chapter of bilateral cooperation.

• Helped support a fast, coordinated and effective response to Cyclone Idai.

• Hosted the Scottish Premiere of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind,using this to raise funds and promote Scottish renewable energy partnerships with Malawi.

• Hosted member-led forums in: health, renewable energy, governance, primary and secondary education, further and higher education, business and trade, and agriculture and food security.
  
• Published a weekly news bulletin, disseminated across Scotland.
  
• Took over McEwan Hall for a National Youth Congress, celebrating youth-led links.

• Ran language and cultural training and workshops.
  
• Published a new book, Friendship with a Purpose, celebrating civic links.

• Supported 250 schools links; established a Youth Committee; ran School Forums; and supported a Scotland-Malawi choir to perform every night of the Edinburgh Tattoo.

• Produced 31 videos celebrating Scotland-Malawi links.
  
• Hosted roundtable meetings for members to engage visiting Malawian Government Ministers, officials and civic leaders.
  
• Hosted a lively and engaging AGM, and Member Awards programme, supporting hundreds of members.

• Supported ethical business, trade, investment and tourism: publishing a new Malawi Tourism Brochure, supporting Dame Kelly Holmes’ Orbis Challenge, BrewGooder craft lager and the Lake of Stars Festival, and producing Scotland Street Malawian coffee with Alexander McCall Smith.
  
• Supported a Malawi Cross Party Group in Holyrood and All-Party Group in Westminster.
  
• Ran a Faith Links Conference and subsequent Faith Links Regional Road-Trip.

• Received 222 items of published positive feedback, outlining the impact of the support given by the SMP to Scotland’s wider civic links.
  
• Through the website, supported cultural links; diaspora leadership; environment and renewable energy; faith links;further and higher education; gender; governance; health links; local authorities; primary and secondary education;sport; sustainable economic development; tourism; trade and agriculture; water; and youth links.

Moira Dunworth at the Mamie Martin Fund

“The Scotland Malawi Partnership is essential to our small organisation. Its weekly bulletins mean that we are kept up-to-date with Malawi-related news in both countries.

We have used the SMP to share information with other organisations and the wider Scottish public, a sharing which would not be possible without the SMP's conduit role.

We learn about the work of others, are able to link in with that when appropriate and they learn about our work and developments. The SMP's sister organisation, the Malawi Scotland Partnership, is vital to our work there.

Through the Mzuzu Resource Centre we are able to have online meetings with our Malawi Manager and she is able to work there, with power and internet access (when it's available!). Their encouragement of her work means a great deal to her and us.”

Mike Durrington at Biggar High School

“Students and staff have benefited from the SMP from day one. They have inspired and challenged us to think globally and act sustainably; so much so that students have regained their voice and are developing transferable skills which they can use beyond school.

"Our partnership has begun to flourish and develop, reaching into our local communities and neighbouring authorities.

"We are now collaborating in a cluster of schools, each with our own individual partnerships. This work is structured around key themes of equity and equality of access to education for all students and staff, both here and in Malawi.

"The continued support from the SMP has been second to none.”