Talks at Capital Hill focus on deepening Malawi–Norway ties in health, education, governance, and climate resilience.
By Burnett Munthali
Malawi’s Vice President, Right Honourable Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah, SC, JA (Retired), has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Kingdom of Norway following a high-level meeting with the Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi, Her Excellency Anne Sofie Bjelland.
The meeting, held at Capital Hill in Lilongwe on Tuesday morning, focused on ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations in key areas of development.
In her remarks, Vice President Ansah hailed Norway as a dependable partner that has consistently stood with Malawi through its various stages of national growth.
She said the two countries share a long history of collaboration built on mutual trust, equality, and the shared pursuit of human dignity and sustainable progress.
Dr. Ansah commended Norway’s contributions to Malawi’s health sector, noting that Norwegian funding and technical support have strengthened hospitals, improved maternal and child health, and advanced service delivery in remote areas.
She further praised the recently signed bilateral grant agreement between the two governments, saying it will help sustain critical investments in the Health Services Joint Fund and national food security initiatives.
The Vice President also highlighted the need to expand partnerships in academic research and innovation, encouraging Malawian and Norwegian universities to collaborate on solutions that promote climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and technology-driven development.
She emphasized that Malawi’s future growth depends on building knowledge-driven institutions that can respond effectively to global challenges such as climate change and energy transition.
Dr. Ansah also welcomed Norway’s continued engagement in governance reforms and institutional capacity-building, describing such support as vital to consolidating democracy and accountability in Malawi’s public sector.
She assured Ambassador Bjelland of the government’s unwavering commitment—under the leadership of His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika—to fostering partnerships that promote inclusive growth and national resilience.
Ambassador Bjelland, on her part, reaffirmed Norway’s readiness to continue working closely with Malawi in advancing shared development priorities.
Both leaders expressed optimism that the partnership will continue to evolve in ways that directly improve the lives of Malawians while reinforcing mutual respect between the two nations.
The discussions marked yet another milestone in the enduring Malawi–Norway relationship, a partnership that continues to inspire progress, cooperation, and shared vision for a better tomorrow.
Great to see Malawi and Norway strengthening ties in health and education. May this collaboration bring real improvements to people’s lives.