Scottish Minister for External Affairs visits The Big Issue Malawi

Pictured: Fiona Hyslop buying magazine
from vendor Kaliza Chunga.
Photo courtesy of The Big Issue Malawi

The Scottish Government's External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop recently met staff and homeless vendors from The Big Issue Malawi in Blantyre.

As well as being interviewed for the publication, the Minister also gained an understanding of the challenges the street-vendors face and heard the impact Scottish Government support is having on their lives.

Development work in Africa

'Strengthening Civil Society & Developing Independent Media in Africa' - This project, in partnership with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), is now underway. This project will strengthen the capacity of the six existing street papers in Africa to forge a stronger independent media presence in Africa and to increase the content from Africa distributed regionally and internationally. African Regional Co-ordinator, Samba Yonga (Big Issue Zambia) has kick started communication between the 6 African street papers and is having a logo designed for the network. Interviews are currently taking place for the African Regional Training and Development Manger who will start in March or April this year.

Mayor of Bergen is INSP's newest Patron

Mayor Gunnar-Bakke.
Photo: Hans Jrgen Brun

INSP has been honoured by the public support of Mayor Gunnar Bakke (pictured) of Bergen, Norway as he becomes the latest Patron. He joins the Lord Provost of Glasgow (Patron) and Reuters' Editor-in-Chief, David Schlesinger (Honorary President) as the INSP's esteemed figureheads.

The appointment of Mayor Bakke sees the development of INSP's Patron scheme, involving Mayors and civic leaders worldwide who are committed to INSP's mission to support street papers and homeless people. Read more.

Funding from The United Nations Democracy Fund

In November, INSP learned that a funding application made to the UNDEF was successful. Despite the enormous competition, INSP was awarded $350,000 over 2 years to develop our African street-paper network. The project will focus on increasing the flow and quality of news coming from our African street papers as well as building the capacity of individual papers.

The project will enable INSP to hire a development professional and trainer to work on the ground with our local papers and The Big Issue Zambia will co-ordinate various regional activities, including an annual conference. Additional journalism training will be provided by external media, including regional Inter Press Service. We are very grateful to the UNDEF for their support. In November, INSP learned that a funding application made to the UNDEF was successful. Despite the enormous competition, INSP was awarded $350,000 over 2 years to develop our African street-paper network. The project will focus on increasing the flow and quality of news coming from our African street papers as well as building the capacity of individual papers. The project will enable INSP to hire a development professional and trainer to work on the ground with our local papers and The Big Issue Zambia will co-ordinate various regional activities, including an annual conference. Additional journalism training will be provided by external media, including regional Inter Press Service. We are very grateful to the UNDEF for their support.

Reuters Reception for INSP

On November 30th, Thomson Reuters hosted exclusive reception on behalf of INSP at the Reuters Building at Canary Wharf in London.

David Schlesinger [right], Editor-in-Chief of Reuters News and INSP Honorary President, reflected upon the past successes of INSP and looked to the future of the organisation in the company of many high profile figures from the worlds of business and media. INSP Chairperson Serge Lareault also spoke at the event, sharing his experience of the street paper movement.

INSP staff attended the event, along with Chairperson Serge Lareault, who reflected on his experience of the street paper movement and his hopes for an exciting and dynamic future. Serge's colleague Richard Turgeon, L'Itineraire's Director of Strategic Development, Marketing and Communications also attended.

This event is the final of a series of special 15th anniversary celebrations for INSP, which took place throughout 2009, including a Civic Reception in Glasgow; the 14th annual conference and the second INSP awards in Norway. Click here for pictures of the event.