Scots ministers announces new £1.2m to aid Malawi poor

The Scottish government will provide £1.2m in funding to projects aimed at helping poor people in Malawi.

International Development Minister Humza Yousaf told MSPs at Holyrood that he would invite Scottish-based organisations to bid for the money.

He said the cash would build on £1.8m already committed in 2013/14.

The government also supports projects in Tanzania, Zambia and Rwanda within Africa and in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in South Asia.

Opening the Malawi international development funding round, Mr Yousaf said: "This reinforces the special and long standing friendship between Malawi and Scotland, first established around 150 years ago by David Livingstone, one of Scotland's greatest explorers.

"It will support the development of more vital projects in 2013 to help children and families in Malawi out of poverty, and it highlights the Scottish government's unwavering commitment to ensuring Scotland is a good global citizen, determined to play our part in addressing the challenges facing the world and helping its poorest people."

The International Development Fund currently provides support to Scottish-based organisations to work on the ground in poor countries.

All applications are independently assessed before a recommendation is given on which projects should be funded.