Partnership Working in Malawi

Geoff EarlRoyal College of Nursing, Scotland

RCN Scotland

• 400,000 members in UK

• 40,000 members in Scotland

• International Office London Based

• RCN UK linked to ICN/Europe

• Limited experience of International work

• Internationally Recruited Nurses group

Scotland Malawi Holyrood Conference

• 3rd November 2005• 5 Plenary Sessions• (1) Investing in

People: Health • (5) Getting

Systems Right: Accountability, Media and Civil Society

• Weak Trade Unions

Partnership of Initial Planning

• Scottish Government• Humanitarian Fund• ICN Geneva• National Organisation of Nurses and

Midwives of Malawi• Norwegian Nurses Association• Voices on the Ground

Fact Finding Visit

• January 2007• NONM• Norway• Malawi

Government• Regulatory bodies• Nurses on the

ground• What ‘gaps’ were

there?

Plan Of Action

• Build capacity of NONM• Encourage ‘Partnership’ working between

Government and NONM• Encourage Scottish Branch’s to twin with

Malawi Branch’s

Inputs: Capacity

• Further 3 trips completed

• Four day governance workshop for activists

• Four day workshop for media

• Nine month young female leadership course

Inputs: Twinning

• Seven Branch’s twinned

• 11 Malawi groups supported

• Home of Hope• Football and

netball teams supported

Early reporting to Early reporting to Scottish GovernmentScottish Government

Award of RCN Honory Award of RCN Honory Fellowship to Dorothy Fellowship to Dorothy Ngoma, NONMNgoma, NONM

Meeting with Health Meeting with Health Minister Khumbo KachaliMinister Khumbo Kachali

Inputs: Partnership working

Lessons Learnt

• What is being done and by whom

• What is actually needed

• What is realistic• Who else can be

involved: Partners!• Look outside the

box