Scotland’s commitment to international development: First Minister's statement

Presiding Officer,

Last week, I returned from a visit to Zambia and Malawi to see some of the projects and partnerships that are supported by the Scottish Government’s international development programme.

This was the first ever visit by a First Minister of Scotland to Zambia. And the first by a First Minister to Malawi since 2005.

Scotland, of course, has a close relationship with both these countries – built over the last 150 years.

So it was important to me to witness these relationships first-hand and to further strengthen them in person. 

To hear directly from the people in these countries of the challenges they face, the aspirations they have, and their goals for our ongoing partnership.

These partnerships were built initially through the outreach of institutions like Scotland’s churches, but today, they are threaded through every facet of our communities, our institutions and our governments.

And though they have evolved over time, the strength and the depth of these ties has never wavered.

And that is what I saw first-hand during my visit.  I experienced the warmest of welcomes in Zambia and Malawi.  And the reassurance that these remain close, innovative and forward-looking relationships, with great potential for future growth.

My visit coincided with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the original Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Scotland and Malawi.

From that important moment in 2005, we have grown Scotland’s international development footprint and its contribution to global solidarity to the shape and level we all see today.

Our international development and humanitarian crisis funding reached nearly £13 million this year. And we stand by our commitment to increase it to £16 million per annum by the time this parliament ends.

In addition to Malawi, our international development work now includes partnerships with Zambia, Rwanda and Pakistan.

And our support to international communities comes not only through our International Development Fund, but through our Climate Justice Fund and through funding to respond to global humanitarian crises. 

This is a total commitment of roughly £25 million.

Like every other member of this Chamber, I know full well that we are in the midst of the most challenging fiscal situation since devolution.  And times are tough for households and businesses across Scotland.

My focus on resolving those pressures within the powers of this Government is unwavering.

But it is possible, indeed necessary, and right for Scotland to play her part in global issues and the global challenge that we face.

Failure to do so would simply worsen the conditions and inequalities that fuel conflict, deprivation and injustice throughout the world. 

Scotland is showing leadership – and is offering sustained funding.

We Scots are, and will continue to be, good global citizens.

And I am proud to serve a country that values its commitments to the world’s most vulnerable.

Many people in the Global South live in extreme poverty, and the challenge to their survival is made ever greater by the devastating, and increasing, impacts of climate change – which they largely have not caused.

I saw this during my visit.  

Malawi, the seventh poorest country in the world, is experiencing simultaneous economic and climate crises.

In my time there, I met people who are contending with high inflation, devastating levels of debts to service, and crippling food insecurity.  

At the same time, they are enduring the climatic shocks of alternating drought and flooding from tropical storms and cyclones. 

But I also saw the difference that our interventions are making. 

In both Zambia and Malawi, I saw that our projects, our commitment, and our investment are improving lives.  

They are working in:

• Health
• Inclusive education
• Equalities
• Renewable energy
• And climate justice.

They are rooted in those close relationships between countries and institutions – finding shared solutions and supporting shared goals.

The new Scottish Government funded “Blantyre-Blantyre” research laboratories in Malawi and Zambia are a powerful testament to this. 

Three universities – in Glasgow, Blantyre and Lusaka – are working together to conduct research into non-communicable diseases.

And, through this shared commitment to collaborative research, they are improving healthcare for all.

I saw this at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Blantyre, where I met Malawi’s first ever cohort of home-grown dentists – their t-shirts proudly proclaimed them “Locally Relevant, Globally Competent.”

And in Zambia, I saw the paediatric operating room installed by Dundee-based Kids Operating Rooms. I had previously visited its sister operating theatre here, in Dundee.

This health partnership will significantly improve access to safe surgery for thousands of children in Zambia.

I am equally proud of our efforts in Malawi and Zambia to secure equitable access to education for disabled learners and girls.

In Malawi, I was able to meet teachers from Balaka Secondary School, where we are funding scholarships for girls, as well as critical wrap-around services, such as mentorship and career guidance.

And in Zambia, I met with partners and grantees from our Women and Girls Fund.  This is a key programme for advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls.

At that meeting, I was able to hear directly from them about the challenges they face, and their determination to tackle gender inequality and gender based violence in their society.

Our Women and Girls Fund is designed to work at a grass-roots level.  That means we work in partnership alongside groups and communities.

We learn from them as they advocate on the issues that so directly affect them.

It is the same with our Climate Just Communities programme. 

On my visit, I met people in Chimbalanga village in Zomba, Malawi, who are taking control of their lives and livelihoods with support from our Climate Justice Fund.

This has only strengthened my resolve to ensure that the value of – and vital need for – community-led climate finance programmes like ours are heard loud and clear – at COP30, in Brazil, and in climate negotiations far beyond.

I am determined Scotland will continue to support climate justice action in the Global South.

Presiding Officer,

Borrowing can be a vital tool for economic growth and development, but when borrowing grows too much or too quickly, it becomes problematic.

And this is what is happening across developing countries, where total public debt reached a record $29 trillion in 2023.

In 2020, Zambia became the first African country to default on its debt.

And the IMF recently reported that, in 2024, Malawi’s overall public debt-to-GDP ratio was around 79%.

Across the Global South, unsustainable debt repayments are consuming resources that should be used to build schools, hospitals, and climate-resilient infrastructure.  To create progress and opportunity.

Climate change is exacerbating this problem.

The Global South should not be forced to choose between repaying their creditors and helping their communities to recover from storms and droughts.

Scotland has consistently advocated for other countries to follow our example of giving funding for loss and damage as grants – not loans – so that countries can recover from extreme climate events without taking on additional debt.

But there is also a need to look at the structural issues that entrench cycles of debt and dependence.

Prior to my visit, I met SCIAF and Christian Aid Scotland and Humza Yousaf MSP to discuss the Jubilee Debt campaign.

It calls for a fairer approach to resolving global debt crises and proposes solutions at a national and international level.  

In the face of global debt injustice, I am convinced that Scotland must continue to lead with compassion and conviction.

We can, and we will, continue to use our voice to speak out against injustice.

So, today, I announce to Parliament our support for the “Cancel Debt, Choose Hope" campaign.

I raise my own voice, my government’s voice, and Scotland’s voice, in support of finding a fair, long-term solution to the global debt crisis.

And I have spoken today of our development assistance programmes, through which we provide financial assistance to Malawi and Zambia.

These must be sustained, but we must also find ways to nurture greater economic activity and growth in the Global South.  To foster greater economic freedom.

During my visit, I heard Malawi and Zambia’s determination to move from aid relationships with the Global North to ones based on increased trade and investment.

I met in Blantyre with partners in our “Malawi Investment Initiative” - the National Bank of Malawi Development Bank and St Andrews Macadamia Farm.

At that meeting – and in a subsequent meeting with Malawi’s President Mutharika – I offered to use My Government’s convening power to host discussions on boosting investment in developing countries. 

This is a crucial ingredient to encouraging greater economic activity and growth in the Global South.

Presiding Officer,

20 years on from the start of our International Development programme, my Government reaffirms its commitment to this work.

We remember the relationships forged 150 years ago.  And we are proud of all the good that has come from them.

We will continue to grow and deepen those relationships. To evolve them to better meet the emerging challenges of our time.

There is of course still work to do, but we are committed to doing it.

We will continue to work together, in partnership, to make a positive difference – both abroad and here at home.

We will continue to be good global citizens.

Scotland – as it always has – will continue to play her part.