Malawi and Norway deepen diplomatic ties through renewed partnership and development cooperation

Vice President Dr. Jane Ansah hails Norway’s steadfast support to Malawi’s health, governance, and education sectors during a high-level meeting with Ambassador Anne Sofie Bjelland.


By Burnett Munthali

Malawi and the Kingdom of Norway have reaffirmed their longstanding diplomatic and development partnership through a renewed commitment to cooperation in key sectors of national growth.

On Tuesday morning, the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Right Honourable Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah, SC, JA (Retired), received Her Excellency Anne Sofie Bjelland, the Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi, at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

During the courtesy meeting, Vice President Ansah expressed her profound appreciation for the enduring friendship between Malawi and Norway — a relationship she described as being grounded in shared values of equality, human rights, and inclusive development.

She noted that Norway has been a consistent ally in supporting Malawi’s development priorities, particularly in areas that directly impact the well-being of citizens.

The Vice President commended the Government of Norway for its unwavering support to Malawi’s health sector, a partnership that has contributed significantly to improved maternal and child health outcomes across the country.

She further highlighted that Norwegian assistance has been instrumental in strengthening Malawi’s national health systems, ensuring that more Malawians, especially in rural areas, have access to quality healthcare services.

Vice President Ansah also welcomed the recent signing of a new bilateral grant agreement between the two governments in November 2025, which guarantees continued support to the Health Services Joint Fund and food security programmes.

She said the grant demonstrates Norway’s confidence in Malawi’s commitment to sound governance and effective service delivery within the social sector.

In her remarks, Dr. Ansah emphasized the importance of deepening academic and research partnerships between Malawian and Norwegian institutions, particularly in fields that promote sustainable development.

She underscored that collaboration in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, energy innovation, and technology development would help build resilience against climate change and foster economic diversification.

The Vice President also commended Norway’s long-standing role in supporting good governance and institutional strengthening, noting that such partnerships have greatly contributed to the consolidation of democracy and public sector reforms in Malawi.

She reiterated that continued dialogue and cooperation between the two nations remain essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in national development.

Dr. Ansah reaffirmed the Government of Malawi’s commitment, under the leadership of His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, to advancing a people-centered partnership with Norway.

She expressed optimism that this renewed collaboration would drive progress toward an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all Malawians.

The meeting concluded with both parties expressing mutual interest in exploring new avenues of cooperation, particularly those that align with Malawi’s Vision 2063 development blueprint and Norway’s global development priorities.

The engagement reaffirmed that the friendship between Malawi and Norway remains strong, built on mutual respect, shared progress, and a common vision for a better world.