Scottish Government

In India our Scottish Government-funded Strengthening Community Action for Better Health and Nutrition project is currently working to raise awareness of services and entitlements to maternal, neonatal health and nutritional services among tribal and poorer communities. This work is aiming to achieve a 60% increase in uptake of health services by women and children in 25 Panchayats in in the districts of Kalahandi and Koraput by 2016.

In the Ntcheu District of Malawi where maternal deaths have been high, we are improving skills of midwives and clinic staff to improve maternal services, and supporting community health promotion in 70 villages in our Ntcheu Integrated Maternal Health project.

The Scottish Government funds two VSO Climate Justice projects in Malawi. The WATERS project works in four districts which are most vulnerable to climate change, linking local government, civil society and communities to consider how one part of an ecosystem will affect other parts, inclusive promoting dialogue between all stakeholders including community members, scientists and politicians and integrating local and indigenous knowledge along with scientific knowledge to solve problems.

The MAJI project aims to reduce the vulnerability of the rural poor to climate change impacts in three vulnerable districts of Malawi, by helping them to proactively and collaboratively plan for the future. By September 2016, communities, government and civil society will develop and implement plans that are equitable, resilient to climate change, and practically implementable. MAJI will raise popular awareness of climate justice in Malawi and Scotland, and lessons from good practice will be shared through international exchanges with Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Scotland