Cash Boost For International Groups

The Scottish Executive has pledged a further £9m to its international Development Fund which the Executive say will help Scottish-based groups with their work in countries like Malawi, Ethiopia and Namibia. The programme was announced by International Development Minister Patricia Ferguson, who said demand for funding was sky high. A total of 24 projects in Malawi, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Namibia and the areas affected by the tsunami and the Asian earthquake will receive £3.1m over the next three years.

Among the schemes being assisted is an Edinburgh-based project to help an association of macadamia nut growers in Malawi sell their crop directly to countries like Scotland.

Another group called Deaf Action will work with deaf people from Scotland, Malawi and Swaziland to help train and register sign language interpreters.

Since the fund was set up last year, 58 individual projects have been awarded over £7 million.