International relations annual report 2024 to 2025 - 3. Globally responsible Wales

In 2024-2025, the Wales and Africa programme continued to demonstrate the Welsh Government’s commitment to global responsibility by fostering international cooperation between communities in both Wales and Africa. Since its launch in 2006, the programme has promoted environmental sustainability, gender equality, health, education and livelihoods as well as providing humanitarian aid.

2024-2025 has been a tough year for those engaged with International Development and solidarity globally. The closure of USAID and major cuts announced to the UK aid budget coupled with the devastation of Gaza and increased climate-related disasters have undoubtedly depressed the sector. Despite these issues, the sector in Wales continues to make progress.

The Wales and Africa budget was reduced by 17.5% at the end of 2023-2024 to £1,050,000 and resulting in the suspension of the International Learning Opportunities programme until late-2024 and a reduction in the pot of money available for small grants.

The team responsible for Wales and Africa has expanded its remit to cover Global Responsibility, better reflecting the work with networks such as Regions 4 Sustainable Development and the European Sustainable Development Network.

In May, King Letsie III of Lesotho made a State Visit to Wales, where we shared learning on Wales’ approach to renewable energy, including rolling out green technology.

One of the standout achievements of the Wales and Africa programme has been the tree planting work with Size of Wales and the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) which celebrated the distribution of 25 million trees in March. Deborah Nabulobi and Hellen Alupo of METGE visited Wales, attending events - including one celebrating International Women’s Day - meeting MSs and speaking to school children.

The urgency of the Climate Emergency was highlighted in November with news of a landslide in the Bulambuli district, which killed more than 100 people and displacing many hundreds more. The Welsh Government quickly responded and donated £11,000 (50 million Ugandan Shillings) towards relief efforts. Our partners at METGE were able to buy and distribute much needed food, soap, bedding and tents directly to the affected families within days.

The Wales and Africa Small Grants Scheme has supported a variety of projects throughout the year:

• Swansea University Panzi Partnership

  Funded by a £1.7 million research grant and a £20,000 Wales and Africa small grant, this project focuses on using genetic material to grow skin and cartilage to repair facial scarring. Prof. Ian Whitaker led this initiative in partnership with Dr. Denis Mukwege at Panzi Hospital, DR Congo.

• ResponsABLE Assistance z

  Supported disabled people and their families in Kenya with a solar-powered borehole, water management training, and soil preservation.

• Kick 4 Life Partnership

  Aims to share learning on community development between Wrexham AFC and Kick 4 Life from Lesotho.

• Mbale Tree Growing Programme

  Gender training for 70 community members, promoting climate justice.

• Cardiff University Optometry Project

  In partnership with the University of Cape Coast, this project provided specialised training and community outreach to advance optometry and eye care practices.

• Dolen Ffermio and FARLU Partnership

  Provided water and electricity infrastructure in Uganda, benefiting more than 420 households and 1,000 people.

• Treeflights Project

  Funded travel for volunteers from Treeflights shops in Wales to Kenya, supporting tree propagation and nature-positive shopping.

• Potter's House CBO Project

  Supported children in Kenya with disabilities through postural support devices made from recycled materials, promoting employment and skills training.

• Chomuzangari Women's Co-operative

  In partnership with the Hope Foundation Trust Zimbabwe, this project addressed period poverty and empowered women and girls through reusable sanitary wear distribution. 

These projects exemplify the diverse and significant impact of the Wales and Africa Small Grants Scheme, contributing to community empowerment, environmental sustainability, health improvements, gender equality and educational initiatives across Africa.

Over the last year, the Wales and Africa programme has supported several impactful, women’s empowerment projects between Welsh organisations and their partners in Uganda. Working in close collaboration with their African partners, Welsh organisations have designed projects which are bringing new insight and understanding back to the global solidarity community in Wales, delivering life-changing impacts, providing better livelihoods and financial autonomy for women, promoting gender integration to fight the effects of climate change, reducing the practice of FGM, tackling period dignity and stigma, and helping girls to complete their education.

The International Learning Opportunities (ILO) programme was relaunched late in 2024 after nearly a year-long pause. The programme is now more focussed on meeting demands of African partners, recruiting participants with the skills and experience highlighted by partners. One placement was started within the financial year with many more planned for 2025-2026.

The Wales and Africa Programme continues to fund the Disasters Emergency Committee Wales to support its coordination and fundraising in Wales. Two donations were made to the Middle East Appeal – with the second one made during the short-lived ceasefire. Officials met with NGOs throughout the year to discuss potential support towards the future rebuilding of Gaza.

In September, Jenipher Sambazi, of Jenipher’s Coffi, visited Wales from Uganda, attending 24 events ranging from visits to the Senedd and UK Parliament to school and community visits.

Bangor University was awarded a £50,000 grant to fine-tune its bio pots initiative, developing a solution to the use of single-use plastics in tree planting projects in East Africa – potentially replacing billions of single-use plastic bags that currently enter the environment every year with a potting sleeve, which harmlessly breaks down in the soil.

Safeguarding is a priority for the Wales and Africa programme. Throughout the year, mandatory training on safeguarding was given to all grant recipients, participants and staff involved in the International Learning Opportunities programme.

Our partner, Hub Cymru Africa, organised a Shared Learning Event in June themed around "Shifting the Power to African Partners," showcasing the work done by Dolen Cymru to decolonise the sector and empower local partners.