Survey seeks to establish extent of Highlands and Islands connections with Africa

Current links between the Highlands and Islands and African countries are the focus of a new survey being launched by the area’s enterprise network.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) wants to establish the extent of commercial, charitable and education connections which the area already has with Africa as a first step towards exploring potential opportunities for new collaborations. The move comes against the backdrop of growing interest throughout the developed world in support of Africa’s poorest nations.

In a similar vein, the Scottish Executive has recently set up the Scotland Malawi steering group to encourage links between the two countries.

HIE also wishes to contribute towards sustaining the increased level of public interest in Africa triggered by the Commission for Africa Report, the Make Poverty History campaign, Live 8 and the G8 summit.

Highland business Media Support, which itself does regular business in Botswana and Mozambique and has worked in many other African countries, has been commissioned to undertake the research. The consultancy will be contacting businesses and other organisations throughout the Highlands and Islands over the next few weeks and is keen to hear from anyone who could help it build a better picture of African links.

Anyone living in the Highlands and Islands and who has African connections can take part in the survey online at www.mediasupport.org or by calling Lorna Campbell on 01463 741704.

Thomas Prag of Media Support said: “There is strong anecdotal evidence of a rich seam of Africa-related experience and links in the Highlands and Islands. These range from people living here who have extensive experience of working in or with Africa, through businesses which have well established links, as well as projects supported by charitable organisations, schools and colleges etc. It will be exciting to find out how much is going on and see if there is any merit in some kind of loose network to share expertise and ideas.”

John Watt, HIE’s director of strengthening communities, said: “While giving direct support to Africa is clearly outside HIE’s remit, nourishing existing links and sharing expertise has the potential to offer positive economic, social and educational benefit – to Scotland as well as Africa. It may also stimulate and fertilise new ideas and projects on both sides. Highlands and Islands Enterprise wishes to explore possibilities of developing an initiative that would be mutually beneficial to the Highlands and Islands and to Africa – particularly Malawi.”

The objective of this first stage is to identify the range and type of existing connections between Africa and the Highlands and Islands, and the key players and contacts. This research findings will then be used to inform a potential HIE Africa initiative.