Scottish Government Health Partnership Programme (SGHPP)
Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET) is pleased to introduce the Scottish Government Health Partnership Programme (SGHPP) — a vital initiative mobilising the power of international collaboration to strengthen health systems across Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Scotland. This programme builds on Scotland’s 20-year legacy of international development, drawing on the Scottish Government’s strengths in health and education and deep-rooted relationships with partner countries to drive equitable, sustainable improvements in healthcare.
Health Partnerships
Funded by the Scottish Government, the SGHPP is a flagship initiative that reflects its ongoing commitment to global health equity.
Health Partnerships are a model for improving health and health services based on co-development between people and institutions in different countries. Under the SGHPP, health institutions in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia will partner with counterparts in Scotland to share knowledge, build capacity, and strengthen health systems.
Building on the success of the NHS Scotland Global Citizenship Programme, these partnerships will provide opportunities for healthcare professionals to share skills, experience and knowledge across borders — improving health for all.
Underpinned by the Scottish Government’s principles for international development, SGHPP takes a feminist approach to international development and supports a participatory approach to decision-making, grounded in local priorities. This programme reinforces Scotland’s commitment to being a responsible global partner — supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals through stronger, more equitable health systems.
As fund manager, Global Health Partnerships (GHP) brings over 35 years of experience delivering impactful Global Health Partnership programmes. GHP will lead on the design, delivery and evaluation of SGHPP, and is excited to collaborate with the Scottish Government on this initiative.
A Legacy of Partnership and Participation
Scotland’s international development approach is rooted in collaboration, solidarity and a shared responsibility for health equity beyond borders. The Health Partnership model reflects these values — ensuring all voices are heard and that both Scottish and partner country institutions benefit.
NHS Scotland has a strong record as a responsible global partner, demonstrated through the Global Citizenship Programme, launched in 2018 to coordinate and support global health engagement by NHS staff and Health Boards. Since then, the network has grown significantly — with increasing numbers of NHS professionals supporting health partnerships and volunteering internationally. The SGHPP builds on this foundation, applying lessons learned to deepen Scotland’s role in global health system strengthening.
Spotlight on Malawi–Scotland Health Partnership: Malawi Cervical Cancer Screening and Mentoring Project (MALSCOT)
One such impactful partnership between Scotland and Malawi focused on strengthening rural health facilities and rolling out cervical cancer ‘screen and treat’ services across Malawi. The initiative upskilled providers and developed mentoring capacity, reaching:
- Over 102,000 women with a first screen for cervical cancer, and more than 33,000 follow-up visits
- 137 health staff with training in cancer screening,
- 25 mentors with specialist training
- Vulnerable women, including those with disabilities and sex workers with essential services
Professionally, I have developed new skills, gained new insights in my field and built a more diverse professional network within Malawi and internationally that has made me more comfortable working with people from different backgrounds. Throughout the project I worked with many partners, sharing lessons learned internationally – such as practical experience of thermal ablation in Malawi - which has contributed to global knowledge.
The Scottish Government should continue to support Scotland–Malawi Health Partnerships because Scotland has academic and clinical expertise we can learn from – in our case, in cervical screening and treatment. Working with Scottish volunteer NHS clinicians provided clinical experiential knowledge, objective competence assessments and CPD.
Beatrice Kabota, Malawian project lead for this Health Partnership
Equity at the Heart
At its core, SGHPP is about equity — addressing power imbalances, championing local leadership, and creating inclusive platforms for lasting change.
The programme supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage. Grounded in fairness and mutual growth, SGHPP facilitates shared learning between Scotland and its partner countries, supporting diverse voices and inclusive practices.
The significance of this equity-focused approach is illustrated by the Partnership between St John Malawi and St John Scotland to improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Malawi:
“The partnership between Malawi and Scotland demonstrated cohesive and collaborative working that led to the successful realisation of expected project outcomes — which helped to improve health practices, stronger community engagement, and enhanced service delivery. Engagement in the project supported skills development for staff and volunteers involved, fostered community mobilization, and facilitated exposure to cross-cultural health strategies and donor coordination.
The Scottish Government should continue to support international Health Partnerships because it represents a great opportunity to bring multi-task skills together to improve health outcomes — and are particularly successful in alignment with global goals and cost-effective use of funds” — Vincent Tholo, project lead for the St John Malawi and Scotland Health Partnership.
The successes achieved in previous Health Partnerships demonstrate the benefits of Scottish Government global health funding, making a strong case for continued investment in Scottish-Partner Country Health Partnerships through the SGHPP.
What’s Next?
Details of the funding call and how to apply will be shared soon on this page.
The SGHPP is not just a programme — it’s a movement toward a fairer, healthier world. Whether you’re a health professional, policymaker or member of the public, we invite you to explore the programme, engage in its work, and join us in celebrating 20 years of Scottish international development in action.
