Scotland Malawi Partnership

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Scotland Malawi Partnership
Non-profit_
Non-profit_type = Umbrella Organisation
founded_date = 2004
founder =
location = Edinburgh, Scotland
key_people = David Hope-Jones, Coordinator
area_served = Scotland, Malawi
focus = Creation of a more effective Scottish involvement with Malawi
method = Co-ordination of existing projects/links, investigation into and promotion of new projects, and advocacy on behalf of members
revenue =
num_employees = 1.3
Non-profit_slogan = "The Scotland Malawi Partnership exists to inspire people and organisations of Scotland to be involved with Malawi in an informed, coordinated and effective way so that both nations benefit."
homepage = [http://www.scotland-malawipartnership.org/ www.scotland-malawipartnership.org]

The Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) is a non-profit umbrella organisation that was formed on 22 April, 2004 with the aim of coordinating the activities of Scottish individuals and organisations with existing links to Malawi, and fostering further links between both countries. The Partnership currently consists of approximately 270 members.

Mission Statement

The Scotland Malawi Partnership is an independent charitable membership organisation. It aims to foster links, consistent with our values, between the two nations, and encourage development of sustainable projects in Malawi by:
* Raising awareness and encouraging support for that aim through enthusing members and supporting their activities
* Acting as a forum for encouraging best possible practice in member organisations and enabling the provision of training and the sharing of ideas, processes and information
* Enabling organisations in Scotland, including NGOs, to take advantage of opportunities which may arise for supporting activities in Malawi, particularly those involving Civil Society
* Encouraging organisations to support activities which, through mobilising Civil Society, will lead to a reduction of poverty in Malawi and an improved standard of living for all strata of Society
* Developing support mechanisms which can lead to an exchange of people and/or advance cultural, political or economic understanding between Scotland and Malawi
* Informing its members of activities, opportunities or items of significance arising in either Scotland or Malawi, particularly relevant plans and initiatives of Malawian individuals and organisations
* Working with national Governments, Local Authorities, other NGOs and voluntary organisations to develop an infrastructure which can be used to benefit its member organisations in their Malawian activities
* Informing Civil Society in Scotland about the work of the Partnership and how the efforts of Civil Society can positively affect the situation in Malawi

The Scotland Malawi Partnership will encourage every organisation and individual in Scotland with links to, or interests in, Malawi to become a member. This, in turn, will enable the Partnership to make a valuable contribution to facilitating a coherent, co-ordinated and mutually rewarding relationship between the two countries and to minimising any duplication of effort.

History

cottish Links with Malawi

Links between Scotland and Malawi began with David Livingstone's journeys up the Zambezi and Shire Rivers to Lake Malawi in 1859, long before the borders of the modern nation of Malawi had been established. Both the Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland had established missions in Malawi by the mid 1870s. These missionaries persuaded the British Government to declare the area a British Protectorate. This colonial arrangement lasted, in various forms, until full independence was achieved on 6 July, 1964, with Malawi becoming a member of the Commonwealth.

Origins of the SMP

The Scotland Malawi Partnership was born from the 'Malawi Millennium Project' of the University of Strathclyde and Bell College, in response to the belief that there was a need to bring together under a single umbrella the many organizations and individuals throughout Scotland engaged in fostering and developing links between Scotland and Malawi. [ [http://www.malawi-update.org/index.php?issue_number=53 Scotland and Malawi: New Developments, Malawi Update, June, 2005] ]

The Partnership was officially launched in the Glasgow City Chambers on April 22,2004 by the Lord Provosts of Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the support of Ibrahim Milazi, the High Commissioner of Malawi, and representatives from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, the Church of Scotland, and the Scottish Catholic International aid Fund (SCIAF). [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Cities-join-to-bring-aid.2522614.jp Cities join to bring aid to the poor of Malawi, The Scotsman Newspaper, 23 April, 2004] ] The Lord Provost of Glasgow and Dr Peter West (Secretary of the University of Strathclyde) thereafter traveled to Malawi, and, with the support of Norman Ling, the (then) British High Commissioner, and numerous prominent Malawians, established the Malawi Committee of the Scotland Malawi Partnership which held its first meeting on 28 September, 2004.

Developments Since Formation

On 29 April,2005 the Scotland Malawi Partnership held a 'Shaping the Partnership' consultative conference at the University of Strathclyde, attended by approximately 100 people - representatives of NGOs, universities, small charities, hospitals and individuals with an interest in Malawi. Guests heard speeches from Ms Patricia Ferguson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport; The Lord Provost of Glasgow; Professor David Rubadiri, Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi; Dr Peter West and the Rev Howard Matiya Nkhoma, General Secretary of the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). The proposed structure and remit of the Partnership were decided upon. [ [http://www.malawi-update.org/index.php?issue_number=53&articleid=103 The Scotland – Malawi Partnership, Malawi Update, June, 2005] ]

Shortly after this meeting, an Interim Board was formed, with the Rev Prof Ken Ross as the Chair and Dr Peter West as the Vice Chair. Three founding members of the Scotland Malawi Partnership were subsequently identified - the Malawi Millennium Project, Malawi Tomorrow and Child Survival in Malawi.

Working in collaboration with the Scottish Executive, the Partnership staged a 'Malawi Health Workshop' in October 2005, attended by over 65 Scottish health professionals. Delegates endorsed the Partnership's plan to maintain related databases for networking purposes.

November 2005 was a significant month for the Scotland Malawi Partnership. The Partnership's conference, 'Malawi After Gleneagles: A Commission for Africa Case-Study', was held at the Scottish Parliament, involving over 250 delegates from Malawi and Scotland engaged in debates about international development. [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Lord-Provost-leads-tributes-as.2676501.jp Lord Provost leads tributes as Malawi VIPs honoured, The Scotsman Newspaper, 8 November, 2005] ] [ [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-05/pa05-106.htm Hopes for Malawi outlined at Scotland-Malawi Partnership Conference, The Scottish Parliament News, 4 November, 2005] ] The First Minister, Jack McConnell MSP, and the President of Malawi, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, were keynote speakers - and during the President's visit the Cooperation Agreement between Scotland and Malawi was signed. [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/internationaldevelopment/malawi/agreement Co-operation Agreement Between Scotland and Malawi] ]

Other important developments in November 2005 were formal acceptance of the first applications for membership of the Scotland Malawi Partnership and confirmation of secure funding from the then Scottish Executive (now Scottish Government) for two and a half years. The Partnership became a fully recognized legal entity on 12 December, 2005, having registered as a Scottish Charity (SC037048) [ [http://www.oscr.org.uk/CharityIndexDetails.aspx?id=SC037048 Extract from the Scottish Charity Register maintained by OSCR] ] and as a Company Limited by Guarantee (SC294378) [ [http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/a5cd8f4c65f15938a067aa8dc814106e/compdetails Companies House Company Information] ] . In the process, the Partnership's Memorandum and Articles of Association was also formally ratified.

From May 2006 a full time coordinator, Leo Williams, was appointed, working from the University of Strathclyde. Assisted by seed funding from the Interim Board, the Malawi Committee held its official launch at the Capital Hotel in Lilongwe, attended by Ms Patricia Ferguson MSP (then Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport) and a delegation from the Scottish Executive, as well as numerous prominent Malawians. The Scotland Malawi Partnership was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in Malawi (7852) on 4 May, 2006.

June 2006 saw the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow become Honorary Presidents of the Scotland Malawi Partnership. In collaboration with the Committee of Malawians in Scotland, the Partnership staged a 'Malawi Independence Celebration' on 1 July to introduce the Partnership to as many Malawians as possible. Guests of honour included His Excellency Dr Francis Moto (Malawi High Commissioner to the UK), His Honour Mr Colin Cameron (Malawi Honorary Consul to Scotland), Ms Patricia Ferguson MSP and the Moyenda Band.

In August 2006 the Scotland Malawi Partnership relocated from an office in the University of Strathclyde to Edinburgh City Chambers.

With the transition to a Scottish National Party (SNP) Government in May 2007, the SMP launched a pledge which successfully persuaded the new administration to continue supporting Malawi – soon after they announced that at least £3 million per year from the International Development Fund would be reserved (“ring fenced”) for Malawi projects. [ [http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.1633975.0.campaigners_fear_cut_in_funds_for_malawi.php Campaigners fear cut in funds for Malawi, The Herald, August 22, 2007] ] [ [http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.1640675.0.aid_body_welcomes_executives_vow_to_continue_malawi_funding.php Aid body welcomes executive’s vow to continue Malawi funding, The Herald, August 24, 2007] ]

Activities & Impacts

Since its inception in 2004, the Scotland Malawi Partnership has staged organisational conferences in Edinburgh and Glasgow, bringing together representatives of Malawian and Scottish civil societies, governments, churches, educational institutions and NGOs, as well as workshops dealing specifically with issues relating to health and education. Malawi Independence Celebrations are held in Scotland annually around 6 July to commemorate Malawian independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.

The Partnership circulates regular weekly news bulletins and monthly newsletters to members, detailing developments in the relationship between Scotland and Malawi, key news from Malawi, reports from members, Partnership news, and upcoming events.

In 2007, the SMP hosted 3 stakeholder meetings focused on funding, health links and agriculture. These meetings were attended by 57 participants from 42 different organisations. Three workshops in relation to educational links and “best practice” were also held, attended by 150 individuals representing 43 different members of the Partnership and 50 non members (schools, colleges and universities attending the Partnerships in Education Workshop). The Partnership has also been involved in the establishment and oversight of working groups in microfinance (which led to the formation of the Scotland Malawi Business Group), governance, housing cooperatives and school partnerships. The School Partnerships Working Group has produced a Practical Guide to School Partnerships Between Scotland and Malawi.

Since the signing of the Scotland Malawi Cooperation Agreement, some 58 projects (many involving Partnership members) have benefited from Scottish government funding, including the Mary’s Meals project, which feeds Malawian schoolchildren, and the Malawi Millennium Project to deliver equipment to schools for visually-impaired children. [ [http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.1633975.0.campaigners_fear_cut_in_funds_for_malawi.php Campaigners fear cut in funds for Malawi, The Herald, August 22, 2007] ]

Academic Exchange

The Partnership also administers a project of Academic Exchange, which provides for the exchange of academic staff, administrators and librarians between the Universities of Scotland and Malawi. Over the period between 2007 and 2010, the project will provide for the exchange of 24 ‘Fellows’ – 12 Scottish, 12 Malawian.

The Academic Exchange project aims to:
* Allow young Malawian academics to visit Scotland for periods of between six and twelve months, in order to gain exposure to and experience of the Scottish Higher Education system.
* Allow such Malawian academics space to complete and write up research projects.
* Afford Malawian university administrators or librarians the opportunity to gain exposure to systems in Scotland, and to update their professional skills as a result of placements at Scottish universities.
* Enable Scottish academics, administrators and librarians to build capacity within universities in Malawi.
* Give Scottish academics, administrators and librarians the opportunity to work in a very different environment, and thus to acquire skills and knowledge which they could not acquire in Scotland.

chool Partnerships Working Group

In November 2006 the Scotland Malawi Partnership formed a School Partnership Working Group to coordinate requests from Scottish schools to create partnerships with Malawian schools. This working group brings together numerous organisations involved in school partnerships, including the Scottish Executive, Scottish International Relief, UNICEF, Link Community Development, the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers, the British Council, ScotDec, the Church of Scotland, the International Development Education Association of Scotland (IDEAS), and representatives of schools with existing partnerships.

In recent years, school links between Malawi and Scotland have increased from around 10 schools to over 100. [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=3323742 They’ve got the classrooms… Now what about teachers? The Scotsman Newspaper, 4 September, 2007] ] A large number of the Scottish schools involved in these partnerships are members of the SMP.

Organisational Structure & Members

Princess Anne and Dr Bingu wa Mutharika are the Honorary Patrons of the SMP and the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow are the Honorary Presidents.

References

External links

* [http://www.scotland-malawipartnership.org/ Website of the Scotland Malawi Partnership]