Malawi Mission Geneva

12/11/2025

African Women Ambassadors in Geneva Join Hands to Advance Women’s Health and Gender Equality

31 October 2025, Geneva:

Women ambassadors in Geneva convened at InterContinental Hotel to discuss the creation of an informal network aimed at enhancing collaboration on global health diplomacy.
In her opening remarks, the initial convener of the meeting, Malawi’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other Organisations in Geneva, H.E. Caroline C.S. Bwanali-Mussa, said that the idea behind WAGEN is to create a space where women ambassadors can think strategically, speak with one voice, and support one another as women champions in global health diplomacy. Participation, she emphasized, will be entirely voluntary and flexible. “Tonight, we wish to share ideas, hear each other’s thoughts and begin the creation of Women Ambassadors Geneva Network (WAGEN), a space to harness women’s leadership and our shared commitment to health equity and gender justice on the global stage, especially in relation to maternal health”, she said.

The initiative comes at a critical time when every two minutes, a woman dies from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, most of them preventable. In addition, issues related to women mental health and breast and cervical cancer continue to rob women of the most productive years and claim lives.

Women Ambassadors who attended the meeting strongly supported the proposal to create WAGEN and committed themselves to tirelessly work on realization of the shared goal to ensure that the network is established and remains vigilant on delivery of its aspirations and commitments.

The Ambassadors agreed to champion efforts on maternal mortality, breast and cervical cancer, women mental health and mentorship of young female professionals.

The meeting was convened with technical and financial support from the Global Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI).

06/11/2025

28/05/2025

Malawi ratifies the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

Today Malawi has ratified the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The Agreement aims at disciplining subsidies which lead to the depletion of global fish stocks and combating illegal, unreported and inregulated (IUU) fishing.Although malawi is not a coastal country, this act signals her committment to the multilateral trading system and contribution towards the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development goal 14.6 aimed at promoting sustainable use of marine resources.

As a nation with the 3rd largest lake in Africa where fishing contributes to around 7.9% of the GDP, Malawi acknowledges the contribution of the fishing to the protection of the livelihoods of vulnerable populations who rely on the aquatic ecosystem for food security, employment, health and socioeconomic resilience. Malawi has become the 100th WTO Member to ratify this agreement, only 11 more ratifications are required for the agreement to enter into force. Malawi has urged other Members to intensify their efforts in ratifying the agreement.

18/12/2024

Her Excellency Caroline C.S. BWANALI-MUSSA presented her Letters of Credence to His Excellency Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, accrediting her as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Malawi to Cyprus on non-residential basis. The ceremony took place on 16th December 2024, at the Presidential Palace, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The ceremony marks a significant step in strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries as they embark on a journey of cooperation on areas of common interests. Some of the key planned priority areas of cooperation are in trade and investment, environment and climate change, technical cooperation and education.

As Malawi is implementing the Malawi 2063 which among others has prioritised the Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining sectors, the engagements with Cyprus are planned to be focused on enhancing cooperation through joint efforts in promoting tourism, advancing agricultural value addition initiatives, introducing Malawian products to the Cyprus market and introducing technologies to enhance agricultural productivity.

All in all, two countries will work towards fostering relations both bilaterally and multilaterally, with the goal of unlocking the full potential for a more active and close engagement.

05/12/2024

Malawi Ratifies Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge

Today, Malawi has become the first country to ratify the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Treaty on Intellectual Property (IP), Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRTK) which was concluded in May 2024.

The Treaty aims to enhance the efficacy, transparency and quality of the patent system regarding GRTK and prevent patents from being granted erroneously for inventions that are not novel or inventive with regard to genetic resources and associated TK.

The head of delegation, Minister of Justice, Honourable Titus Mvalo, highlighted that “ This Treaty will make the intellectual property system more relevant to our people and local communities, and will help in our efforts to exploit and commercialize GRTK for the betterment of the livelihoods of the custodians of this knowledge bank”.

The treaty will come into force three months after there have been 15 ratifications and accessions.

10/06/2024

MALAWI ELECTED AS ​TITULAR MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION GOVERNING BODY

Malawi has been elected by an overwhelming majority for a 3-year term as a Titular Member of the International Labour Organization’s Governing Body in elections that took place on 7th June 2024 during the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference, held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Malawi amassed 199 votes out of the 217 votes cast. This is an indication that the vast majority of the Member Countries have confidence in Malawi to represent them. Malawi will represent the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a Titular Member, with Mozambique and South Africa as Deputies. Malawi was nominated by SADC to represent the sub-region as a Titular Member of the Governing Body for the period 2024-27 at a Ministers of Labour and Employment Meeting in March 2024 held in Angola.

Malawi is one of the 28 Governments holding Titular Membership of the ILO Governing Body in an Organization of 187 Member States. Malawi had previously served in the Governing Body as a Deputy Member alongside Eswatini, while Namibia was the Titular Member. Namibia and Eswatini have each now exited the Governing Body having served two terms.

The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Organization. It is composed of 56 Titular Members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers); and 66 Deputy Members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). The Governing Body meets three times a year, in March, June and November. Amongst other mandates, it elects the Director-General; takes decisions on ILO policy, and decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference.

Ten of the Titular Government seats are permanently held by States of Chief Industrial Importance, namely: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

03/06/2024

MALAWI ATTENDS THE 112TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE

The Minister of Labour, Honourable Agnes Nyalonje is leading a Malawi Tripartite Delegation to the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3rd to 14th June 2024. In attendance is also Her Excellency Caroline C.S. Bwanali-Mussa, Malawi Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva.

Considered as the Parliament of Labour, the Government, Employer and Worker delegates from the ILO’s 187 Member States will address a wide range of issues, including the protection of workers against the effects of climate change and biological hazards, the care economy and fundamental principles and rights at work.

The Conference will also elect members of the ILO Governing Body for the period 2024-2027. Malawi, representing the southern Africa sub-region, served as Deputy Member for the period 2021-2024 and has been nominated to represent the sub-region in the 2024-2027 period as Regular Member.

The Malawi Delegation comprises Officials from the Ministry of Labour, the Malawi Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, the Employers Federation, Employers Consultative Association of Malawi, ECAM, and the Workers Federation, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU).

29/05/2024

Her Excellency Madam Monica Chakwera, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi is in Geneva in her capacity as Global Champion in the fight against TB. The First Lady has been invited by the Stop TB partnership to preside over two events under the themes: "Breaking Barriers and Using Digital Technology for Early Detection of Disease: Lessons from Tuberculosis Screening" and "Translating High Level Commitments into Action - Africa Delivering Towards Ending TB by 2030" on the side lines of the World Health Assembly.

She is expected to deliver key note statements during those events. She will also be meeting other stakeholders.

In the picture, Her Excellency being briefed on the events by Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership.

29/05/2024

THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI MEETS THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT

The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency Monica Chakwera, on 28th May 2024, paid a courtesy call to the Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRCRC), Mr. Jagan Chapagan, at the IFRC Secretariat.

The Secretary General and his team from Health and Education departments highlighted the different programs being implemented in Malawi through the Malawi Red Cross Society. The priority areas include support for crisis related challenges, strengthening the capacity of the Red Cross in Malawi, collaboration with the Ministry of Health on disaster preparedness and plan for pre-position preparedness on disaster with the Global Fund. The Secretary General also indicated that plans under health to scale up community-based crisis related response, mitigation, and preparedness are under way.

On education, the IFRCRC through the Danish Red Cross with funding from the European Union are providing support to schools to be better and safer places with continued education provision during crisis to void the disruption of education services during crisis as most times education facilities become temporary places of accommodation.

Future plans in education include climate change related activities – greening schools to be more climate change resilient, assist in ensuring agriculture practices that are climate resilience, first aid awareness for teachers and pupils, young people and students, including behavioral change programs and family support (the youth to be advocates for change in families and communities); anticipatory actions – preventing loss and damage, setting up places within schools for continued education provision during crises and disasters.

In her remarks, the First Lady, Her Excellency Monica Chakwera, expressed her gratitude for the good work that IFRCRC, through the Malawi Red Cross Society, is doing in Malawi; especially after Cylone Freddy and the recent floods in the country. “The crises Malawi is experiencing are beyond what the country prepared for”, she asserted. She reiterated her passion for the work of the Red Cross particularly ensuring that the education of the girl child is not interrupted during crisis considering that girls normally have a limited number of years they can adequately attend school as disruptions are many. She further assured the Secretary General of her commitment to collaborate with IFRCRC in the humanitarian programmes considering that the world is still facing many crises.

27/05/2024

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malawi participated in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference which took place from 13-24 May 2024 in Geneva Switzerland. The Malawi delegation was led by the Minister of Justice, Honourable Titus Mvalo. Malawi has signed the international legal instrument on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.

The instrument aims to enhance the efficacy, transparency, and quality of the patent system, and prevent patents from being granted erroneously for inventions that are not novel or inventive with regard to genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.

Malawi as a country rich in genetic resources and traditional knowledge stands to benefit from the additional disclosure requirement set forth by this instrument which will facilitate compliance with legislation requiring prior informed consent and benefit-sharing arrangements.

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19/04/2024

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malawi participated in the Third Session of Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, from 16 to 19 April, 2024 at the Palais des Nations.

Joining other Member States and other delegates in the deliberations, the Mission made an intervention during the General Debate by reflecting on the progress made in the international awareness of the human rights issues of People of African Descent and calling out the continued deep inequalities and discrimination that the People of African Descent face in every layer of their lives, which have been kept alive through generations of slavery, colonialism and now, a biased and unequal international architecture engineered to maintain the status quo.

The Mission echoed the affirmation that the Permanent Forum on People of African descent should be firmly based on the reaffirmation of the Durban Declaration on People of African Descent.

The Forum unanimously agreed to continue full engagements and that the second international decade should focus on topics of historical reparation and reparatory justice among others.