The Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on International Development came together for what is expected to be its last meeting of the current parliamentary session on Wednesday 4 February 2026 to explore global partnerships and locally led approaches to healthcare in the Global South.
The meeting brought together speakers joining both in person and online from Nigeria, Malawi and Zambia, sharing practical examples of what locally-led approaches look like in different health contexts, and what it takes for partnerships to support lasting change.
Prof Karin Diaconu from Queen Margaret University opened by reflecting on the realities of strengthening health systems in fragile and shock-prone settings. Referring to the ReBUILD for Resilience and REDRESS (Liberia) programmes, she highlighted both the value and challenges of participatory, locally grounded approaches, particularly when systems are disrupted by conflict, violence or pandemics. A key message was that community leadership must be locally defined and meaningful, with communities involved in decision-making and problem-solving rather than consulted in name only. Karin also emphasised the time needed to build trust and capability, and the constraints created by short-term, disease-specific funding and power imbalances that can undermine genuine participation.
Philip Ode from CBM Global, Nigeria then spoke about the country’s efforts to tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases, a field that is often underfunded despite profound impacts on individuals, communities and wider society. He shared CBM Global’s evidence-to-impact approach, combining operational research with delivery. Examples included strengthening state systems, including medicine supply and community distribution, to move from control to elimination, adopting a more holistic care model to restore dignity, and integrating mental health within local systems aligned to Nigeria’s NTD Master Plan. Across the examples, the discussion returned to the importance of local leadership and integrated approaches, with global partnerships adding value when they help build systems rather than parallel structures.
Sarah Gibson from EMMS International and Lameck Thambo from the Palliative Care Association of Malawi discussed Locally Led Development as shifting power and resources so local actors can set agendas, design solutions and lead implementation, moving away from top-down aid. They explored how this shapes PACAM’s practice and EMMS’s partnership approach, including strengthening sustainable organisational capacity. A practical example mapped roles across a typical funding cycle, with PACAM leading contextual design and implementation, and EMMS supporting proposal submission, due diligence and project management tools, underpinned by regular meetings and shared reporting throughout.
Eddy Chikuta from WaterAid Zambia reflected on how access to water, sanitation and hygiene is central to preventing disease and improving life chances. He outlined WaterAid Zambia’s dual focus on delivering sustainable community WASH programmes and empowering communities to campaign for long-term policy change and infrastructure investment by government and local authorities.
In the open discussion which followed, participants discussed the impact of significant aid budget cuts and the resulting loss of jobs, capacity and expertise. Other themes included the importance of prevention, engagement with diaspora groups in Scotland, and lessons for Scotland in relation to palliative care.
The meeting also noted a letter from Angus Robertson MSP updating the CPG on steps taken in response to the CPG’s June 2025 report, including publication of overseas development spend on IATI and the establishment of a regular sector engagement mechanism in partnership with SIDA.
The meeting ended with a special thank-you and small presentation to Sarah Boyack MSP, who has served as the Chair of the CPG for many years, and has announced her intention to stand down from the Scottish Parliament at the forthcoming election.
Formal minutes and the presentations from the meeting can be found here.
Picture: Participants at the meeting, with Sarah Boyack MSP and a small token of the Group’s appreciation for her many years of support and as Chair.