6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the future of the Wales for Africa programme? OAQ52215

The Wales for Africa programme supports individuals, community groups and organisations in Wales to combat poverty in Africa in ways that deliver benefits both to Wales and Africa. We recently awarded a three-year grant to Hub Cymru Africa and opened a small grant scheme to support activity across Wales.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. I'm a huge advocate of the programme, and I think it's been doing some excellent work. Just last week, I returned from western Kenya, where I saw the work that's being done by Just Earth, which is a Welsh-based charity helping subsistence farmers in that part of the country; it's also doing some work in Uganda too. As a result, they're increasing their crop yields and it's helping to eradicate poverty in that neck of the woods. Will you join me in congratulating Just Earth on their work? What action is the Welsh Government going to take in order to identify other organisations like them who may not be engaged in the Wales for Africa programme, so that we can maximise the opportunities that working together collaboratively can bring in sub-Saharan Africa?

I support any organisation, of course, that is providing support to those most in need. He asked the question, 'What are we doing as a Government?' Well, Hub Cymru Africa, as I've said, has been awarded a three-year grant of £349,000 per annum for 2018-21. The hub provides advice, training and support for the hundreds of groups in Wales that are active in Africa—that support is available to any organisation. I can say that in terms of grant funding, we received 105 grant applications during 2017-18, so it shows that there's a great awareness of what we have to offer in terms of grant support. I'd encourage any organisation to engage with that process.

First Minister, I very much agree with Darren Millar, and I know with many across the Chamber, on the value of the Wales for Africa programme. I too have been lucky enough to see at first hand in Mbale in Uganda the value of the educational and health links. In addition to what you've already mentioned, in terms of Hub Cymru Africa and the grant scheme, will the Welsh Government look at how further work could take place to build on the community-to-community links? I know there's a great deal of interest right across Wales in our communities, in terms of how people can play their part in building on the progress already made.

Yes, I can. What I'd direct communities and community groups to look at is the Wales for Africa small grant scheme. It was launched recently and it's designed to focus on enhancing Wales's contribution to combating poverty in Africa, but also designed, of course, to help community groups and community links to contribute to that agenda. That grant scheme is open to established organisations—there are many across Wales—but also new organisations with new ideas. So, it would be that scheme that I'd suggest that people look at in order to see how they can be helped to help others.

First Minister, I'm sure you are well aware of the fantastic work that is being done by the Pontypridd-based charity PONT, which has developed links with Mbale in Uganda, and the considerable way in which that has developed to the benefit of the people in Uganda and Mbale. My particular, I think, praise is for the actual educational work that that charity is engaged in within schools in Taff Ely, so that in every school you go around there, you now see young students who are actually engaged in monitoring what's happening—in understanding and engaging with it, and really developing a sort of traditional Welsh spirit of internationalism, in terms of our responsibilities to the rest of the world and vice versa. At a time when barriers are going up around the UK and so on, isn't this a fantastic example for our schoolchildren of how we can contribute to all of the global issues that affect us all?

I've been fortunate enough to see PONT's work at first hand in Mbale—I was there in 2014. For example, I saw the PONT motorcycle ambulance service. It provides emergency treatment for women in labour, getting them to the main hospital from quite inaccessible areas with poor roads—I saw that being demonstrated. There is a PONT co-ordinator, who spends time in Mbale working with partners to drive up standards. And I've seen, of course, what PONT has done in terms of providing infrastructure in Mbale as well. It's a tremendous story over many, many years, and one that I was privileged to see.