Scotland and Malawi are celebrating 20 years of partnership! In 2005 the Scotland-Malawi Co-operation Agreement cemented the historic ties between our countries. In the same year, Scotland launched its international development programme implementing projects through Scottish organisations and their Malawian partners, and Link began its work in Scotland and Malawi.
Link’s earliest projects focused on partnership at a very human level. We linked schools in Scotland and Malawi, facilitated shared projects by pupils on topics relevant to the curriculum in both countries, and supported teacher exchange visits for professional development. From the beginning, we believed that we had as much to gain from our partners as they did from us, and that we could achieve more if we did it together.
As our work gained momentum, its impact on school leadership, teaching quality and learning outcomes drew national attention in Malawi. This gave us the opportunity to elevate our partnership from supporting individual schools to strengthening the education system as a whole, in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to sustainable development.
Link provided Malawian and Scottish education expertise, and with Malawi’s Ministry of Education developed the first ever National Education Standards, a set of minimum requirements for teaching, learning, school leadership, community participation and child protection. These provide a common framework for school improvement in Malawi which is understood by communities as well as government experts.
“With Link you are always working within the Ministry … With Link scaling up and capacity-building is within the project… Tools and instruments are developed with Ministry to meet Ministry needs.” Director, Ministry of Education, Malawi
Ongoing reflection with our government partners in Malawi, together with the Scottish Government’s investment shaped the next evolution of Link’s work. Our RISE project (2024-2029) is focused on education for children with disabilities, reflecting a shared desire to leave no one behind as we improve the education system. Delivered with partners in Zambia and Rwanda as well as Malawi, RISE catalyses Scotland’s impact on inclusive education across East Africa, while sharing learning between countries enhances partnerships.
Meanwhile, the Climate Just Communities project responds to the real threat to education posed by climate change, and reflects Scotland and Malawi’s leadership on climate justice. Link is supporting schools and their communities to develop Green School Improvement Plans that anticipate climate disasters and keep all students safe and learning throughout an emergency. This model has global relevance for schools facing the growing impact of climate change.
As Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney prepares to visit Malawi and Zambia this week, we are proud to showcase what two small nations committed to genuine partnership can achieve together.