Relations with the EU
The European Union and Malawi
The partnership between the European Union and Malawi is based on the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement. In a framework of respect for universal human rights, this landmark pact reaffirms the EU’s willingness to make a significant contribution to poverty eradication, sustainable development and gradual (regional and global) integration of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries into the world economy.
Political Relations
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Political Framework The partnership between the European Union and Malawi is based on the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement. In a framework of respect for universal human rights, this landmark pact reaffirms the EU’s willingness to make a significant contribution to poverty eradication, sustainable development and gradual (regional and global) integration of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries into the world economy. Political and Policy dialogues Relations between Malawi and the EU are traditionally cordial and close. Two EU Member States are represented at embassy level in Malawi, namely Germany and Ireland. Cotonou Agreement The Cotonou Agreement, notably its articles 8 to 13, defines the bilateral framework for the political dialogue between Malawi and the EU. The Agreement has been extended to June 2023. A new treaty has been negotiated and should enter into force by mid-2023. Other conventions and political commitments include the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership, the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP). In addition there are the Malawi strategic documents, in particular the Malawi 2063 National development plan and the Malawi 2063 First Ten Year Implementation Plan. Further dialogue and cooperation between Malawi and the EU also involves the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). |
Economic Relations, trade, investments
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Through Farmer Field Schools under Kulima Programme, EU is promoting improved ecosystem practices through conservation agriculture.
Copyright: FAO Malawi
Sustainable Development and Green Economy
The European Union strongly supports the country’s efforts towards a sustainable and inclusive economic transformation that is green and resilient to shocks. Private sector led-growth, in particular in the green and circular economy where significant opportunities exist, will help young Malawians increase productivity and consumption. Malawi needs decent jobs for the growing number of youth entering the labour market every year, to be able to harness the benefit of a demographic dividend (provided the birth rate continues to decrease).
For this to happen, the EU partners with Malawi Government and the private sector to develop diversified and commercially modern agriculture and agro-industry, driven by a healthy and productive workforce. This in turn requires further crowding in sizeable sustainable investment in economic infrastructure, in addition to progress in further improving governance systems and building human capital.
Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Aid
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Since 1976 the European Union institutions have provided more than 2 billion euros in development aid to Malawi. In order to help the country in addressing its multiple challenges, the EU’s development cooperation relations with Malawi focus on job creation in a broad sense, in particular through economic development on the basis of agriculture-driven growth and education and skills development of the youth. It does so while addressing weaknesses in domestic accountability and supporting those most exposed to recurring external shocks. The EU plays an important role as a partner for jobs and growth. Support to improving the business environment and the investment climate, value chain development and skills development are enabling factors for the development of the country, as also highlighted in the Malawi 2063 vision document. At the same time, support to connectivity, especially with Mozambique and Zambia, is key for regional integration and addresses the issues of high transport costs and deficient power supply, which hamper the capacity of Malawi to trade in the region. Furthermore, a stable and inclusive society is an important pre-condition for growth to pick up. The EU assumes its role in supporting the electoral process and the respect of human rights and the rule of law. As inequality and poverty are high, continued attention to inclusive growth remains central to the EU’s partnership with Malawi. For the period 2014-2020, over EUR 700 million has been allocated to Malawi. EUR 560 million was allocated to the National Indicative Programme under the 11th EDF. In addition, from the regional indicative programme, a further EUR 100 million was allocated to infrastructure programmes in Malawi that improve its regional connectivity. The balance was allocated from different instruments to civil society support, human rights, research and, through the humanitarian aid office ECHO, to emergency relief response, food assistance and disaster preparedness. All of the EU’s development cooperation and humanitarian aid is grant funding. With the launch of the new Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 the European Union has committed to provide Euro 352 Million for the next three years; while the financial allocation for 2025-2027 will be determined following a review in 2024. |
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Through various projects, EU supports Malawi’s preparedness and resilience in times of natural disasters.
Copyright: ECHO
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EU in Malawi trains Solar Energy Technicians
Energy, Environment, climate change
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Human rights, democracy, rule of law
In line with the EU Human Rights and Democracy Strategy, the EU in Malawi continues its support to Malawi for it to achieve continuous improvements in the areas of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. This implies strengthening the quality of electoral processes, including for the delivery of inclusive, transparent and well-managed elections in 2025, and to address challenges related to human rights violations, gender inequality and gender-based violence, violence against children and limited access to justice for the marginalised groups.
To that end, there is need for continuous support to strengthening institutional capacities of oversight institutions (e.g. Malawi Electoral Commission, Malawi Human Rights Commission, Office of the Ombudsman), of the judiciary and of law enforcement institutions. It also requires empowering citizens’ voice, in particular from civil society, communities’ structures, and the media, in order for them to provide reliable information, keep oversight of the public sector’s action and engage in advocacy. This includes improving the access to information, to ensure that necessary checks and balances in the democratic system can function effectively.
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Children advocate for equal rights for all
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EU in Malawi supports Civil Society Organisations
Civil society dialogue
The European Union in Malawi has a long-standing relationship with civil society. CSOs are recognised as essential to the country’s development both in their role as providers of public services and in their advocacy and oversight role contributing to the continuous improvement of mutual accountability, democracy and human rights. CSOs are regularly consulted when identifying and formulating priorities for the EU’s cooperation with Malawi, such as the EU Human Rights and Democracy Strategy (2021- 2024).
During the period 2014-2020, around EUR 70 million has been awarded to CSOs pursuing objectives in a broad set of policy areas (human rights, gender equity, governance, food security, social protection and others). In addition, Malawian non-state actors are often called upon to assist in implementation of a variety of EU-funded projects which complement the provision of public services by the state in areas like agriculture, food security, water and sanitation, education and skills development.
In case of questions please contact the EU Delegation's civil society focal person, Ms. Grace Mganga at Grace.Mganga@eeas.europa.eu
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Young Malawians performing at the joint EU, AU and Malawi Government Conference on youth employment in Malawi-December 2020.
Cultural and Public diplomacy
The Delegation contributes and encourages a close information-sharing, reporting and joint outreach, and public diplomacy by holding regular EU Heads of Mission meetings, and where possible organising demarches, political dialogues, outreach and public events together.
The Delegation carries out its public diplomacy activities through cultural events, social and traditional media relations, economic and climate diplomacy. We organise and support various cultural events like the European Film Festival to promote the image of a creative Europe to Malawians as well as to foster mutual understanding between cultures.
The overarching theme for 2021 is ‘Greener Together’, building on the concepts of partnership and green recovery. This theme serves as a guiding principle when organising general events. The EU in Malawi is leading by example as far as its environmental impact is concerned. In this time of a pandemic, our public outreach activities take place in a way that fully takes account of Covid-19 constraints.
Please follow us on Facebook (European Union in Malawi) and Twitter (@EUinMalawi) for our day-to-day cultural and public diplomacy activities.