Mr. Benard Sande, Principal Secretaryfor Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the link between the Government of the Republic of Malawi and the International Community. It is responsible for formulating, implementing and monitoring the Malawi Foreign Policy and the Malawi Diaspora Engagement Policy. The Foreign Policy is a codification of the guidelines, principles and norms that assist Malawi to relate with other states or bodies in the international, political and economic systems in order for the country to achieve its development goals and further its national interests. The Malawi Diaspora Engagement Policy seeks to harness the potential of the Malawians living in foreign countries to maintain links with their home country with the ultimate aim of contributing to Malawi's socio-economic development. In performing its mandate, the Ministry works in close liaison with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are responsible for the implementation of various international commitment that Malawi has undertaken. The Ministry has six directorates namely Africa & Middle East; Americas; Asia, Australia and Pacific; Europe; Protocol; and Management. The Management directorate is composed of the following divisions: Human Resource Management & Development; Internal Finance; Procurement, Legal Affairs; Internal Audit; Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation; and Information & Communication Technology. The Ministry has twenty one Malawi Missions located in Africa; South & North America; Asia; and Europe. These Malawi Missions include Malawi Embassies, High Commissions, Malawi Consuls General, Malawi Permanent Missions and Honorary Consuls.