Bilateral relations between Switzerland and Malawi are good but not very extensive. The FDFA's Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) runs various programmes and projects in Malawi.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Malawi
Key aspects of relations
Switzerland has set out a strategy for sub-Saharan Africa for 2021–24.
The regional programme developed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for southern Africa continues to operate in Malawi, where nine projects are currently being carried out with the support of partner organisations.
The Swiss embassy in Harare (Zimbabwe) also covers Malawi, where a Swiss honorary consul is based. Malawi has a permanent representation in Geneva, which is also accredited as an embassy to Switzerland, and a consulate in Zurich.
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers who are citizens of Malawi can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
As part of its 2018–22 strategy, Switzerland is working with Malawi in agriculture and food security (to improve seeds, production techniques and links to markets, as well as nutrition and disaster risk reduction). The strategy also addresses HIV/AIDS issues among young people, focusing primarily on prevention (but also supporting initiatives to help people affected by HIV/AIDS) as well as sexual and reproductive health.
The SDC's future programme beginning in 2023 will focus on Zambia and Zimbabwe as set out in the International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24.
Swiss nationals in Malawi
According to the statistics on the Swiss abroad, at the end of 2020 there were 28 Swiss nationals living in Malawi; 35 Malawian nationals were living in Switzerland.
History of bilateral relations
Swiss traders settled in the country in the 1930s when it was known as the British Protectorate of Nyasaland. When the country declared its independence in 1964, Switzerland immediately recognised the new Republic of Malawi. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1966.
