AN extra £1.2million is being made available to help Scottish projects relieve poverty in Malawi.

Scottish International Development Minister Humza Yousaf says the cash will help education and food programmes in one of the world's poorest countries.

The announcement comes as a group of teachers from Malawi is in Glasgow learning techniques to take back to Africa to help schools in the country.

Mr Yousaf said the money would be used next year and invited Scottish organisations to bid for the cash, which increases a fund of £1.8m already committed and supporting more than 40 projects in Malawi.

The Glasgow MSP said: "This reinforces the special friendship between Malawi and Scotland, first established about 150 years ago by David Livingstone, one of Scotland's greatest explorers.

"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."

Patricia Ferguson, Maryhill and Springburn MSP, welcomed the continuing commitment to Malawi and said Glasgow was forging strong educational links.

She said: "All staff learned from the experience. Projects like these have advantages of being a true partnership, where we can learn from them as much as them from us."

Ms Ferguson praised Scottish charities, such as Mary's Meals, that are helping to feed hundreds of thousands of Malawian children every day.

She added: "We should be proud of them, but more than that we should support them."

The Malawi Leaders Of Learning project has seen Glasgow education staff travel to the African nation and six Malawian staff are currently on a return visit to Glasgow.

The links with schools around Malawi's Blantyre region has seen Glasgow schools fund-raising for equipment and helping with school rebuild- ing and classroom refurbishments.

Stephen Curran, Glasgow City Council's education spokesman, said: "Ten Glasgow education staff returned from a five-week working trip in the summer and we are delighted to welcome the Malawian teachers into Glasgow schools to share experiences and good practice.

"This is a long-term project."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk