International Organization for Migration Malawi

12/05/2026

Today, the IOM Malawi Chief of Mission, Fatma Said, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Homeland Security, Hon. Peter Mukhito, to convey condolences following the tragic loss of Malawian lives during a return journey from South Africa, amid ongoing xenophobic violence.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong collaboration between IOM and the Government of Malawi on border security, migrant protection, and Malawi’s commitments under the International Migration Review Forums (IMRF) as a champion country for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). Discussions also covered progress on key initiatives, including the Border Management Information System (BMIS) and cross-border facilitation using Border Passes under the World Bank–funded Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP).

Pressing concerns related to recent xenophobic attacks against Malawians in South Africa and the detention of migrant minors were highlighted. IOM reiterated its commitment to supporting dignified returns of stranded Malawians in South Africa, as well as facilitating the return of Ethiopian migrants to their country of origin.

12/05/2026

IMPORTANT!! Please take note that the RE2CLID Kick-off meeting has been postponed. We will communicate the new date SOON.

11/05/2026

SAVE THE DATE!! for the Regional Responses to Climate-Induced Displacement programme (RE2CLID) Kick-off meeting on 13th May 2026 at Golden Peacock in LILONGWE from 8:30am.

The RE2CLID Programme is a four-year regional intervention funded by the European Union and implemented by IOM. It aims to strengthen government and community resilience to climate shocks and address the growing challenge of climate-induced displacement in Sub-Saharan Africa.

27/04/2026

22/04/2026

Update!!

Today, the Chief of Mission for IOM Malawi, Fatma Said and the Director General for the Malawi Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Counsel Dennis Chipao inspected the deployment and pilot rollout of the Border Pass card in Dedza One Stop Border Post, marking her first visit to the border.

The Border Pass card is a travel document issued by Immigration authorities to facilitate the cross-border movement of border residents and small-scale traders who live within 20 kilometers of the international border line. As per the memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Mozambique, beneficiaries can travel up to 50 kilometers inside Mozambique and vice versa.

During the inspection, the Director General was successfully enrolled in the system as part of the demonstration. He received his Border Pass card and observed the full process from registration and authorization to printing and issuance, demonstrating the system’s efficiency and readiness. The visit also included a tour of the Dedza Border Post and an engagement with operations on the Mozambique side of the border, providing valuable insights into cross-border processes.

As part of the next steps, IOM will roll out the Border Pass system to Mwanza, Mangochi, and Mulanje border points, further strengthening safe, orderly, and regular cross-border movement.

14/04/2026

WORK WITH US: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) invites interested and eligible vendors to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to supply various goods. Follow the link below for more information or scan the QR code.https://malawi.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl2561/files/documents/2026-04/request-for-expression-of-interest-prequalification-of-suppliers-iom-malawi.pdf

07/04/2026

IOM Malawi joins the World in celebrating
No one's life should depend on where they were born, how much they earn or which side of a border they stand on. Healthcare is a right as fundamental as the air we breathe.

07/04/2026

This , we stand for a world where health and dignity are within reach for all.

27/03/2026

Today, IOM attended the Second Steering Committee Meeting convened by the Malawi Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services to review progress on the implementation of the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and the Border Pass System (BPS)

The session, chaired by the Director General, Counsel Dennis Chipao highlighted the Government of Malawi’s continued commitment to strengthening migration management through digital transformation, enhanced security, and improved service delivery.

The Steering Committee also used this opportunity to meet and engage with the newly appointed IOM Malawi Chief of Mission Fatma Said who commended the strong collaboration between DoICS, IOM, and key partners under the project. She reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to supporting government-led efforts to modernize border management systems in line with international standards.

During the meeting, stakeholders received updates on MIDAS and BPS implementation against the 2025/2026 work plan, discussed budget realignments, and reviewed architectural designs for the seven containerised border offices currently under development.

Both MIDAS and the BPS are being implemented under the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) housed within the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. The project is financed by the World Bank with IOM providing technical support.

25/03/2026

Today, IOM Malawi Chief of Mission Fatma Said officially presented her credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honourable Dr George Chaponda, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the Minister commended IOM’s continued contributions to Malawi’s development, highlighting key achievements such as strengthening diaspora engagement, promoting remittances for development, supporting border management through MIDAS and the Border pass, and providing an immigration patrol boat, and expressed great interest in IOM possibly enhancing collaboration on youth engagement.

The Chief of Mission reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to turning dialogue into action, emphasising upcoming initiatives, including the Regional Responses to Climate-Induced Displacement (RE2CLID) project, which supports communities affected by climate change.

IOM looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Government of Malawi and advancing safe, orderly and humane migration for all.

19/03/2026

Launch of the Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme & ROCK Project in Malawi

"When spider webs unite, they can tie a lion. This gathering to me is spider webs tieing the lion of trafficking, of smuggling, of irregular migration." - Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malawi.

Today, the Malawi Government led by the Minister of Homeland Security, Honourable Peter Mukhito proudly kicked off the Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme together with the ROCK Project at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), bringing together Government, UN agencies, development partners, and civil society to strengthen safe, orderly and humane migration in Malawi and the region.

Funded by the EU Trust Fund for Africa and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by IOM and CIVIPOL in Malawi, the BMM Programme aims to; Improve migration governance, strengthen responses to Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SoM), enhance cross‑border cooperation, strengthen protection and assistance services for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking and support national and regional referral mechanisms.

In his remarks representing IOM Malawi’s Chief of Mission Jeremiah Joshua said, "through this project, IOM will support an integrated border management, working closely with national counterparts and protection actors to improve access to institutionalized, gender-responsive protection services for victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants, applying a whole-of-route approach. IOM extends its sincere gratitude to the EU for its generous support, to the Government of Malawi for its leadership and to all partners for their continued collaboration."

Malawi’s strategic position along the Southern Route makes today’s engagement especially critical, as countries work together to improve coordination, intelligence‑sharing, victim protection, and community awareness.

Together, we are laying the groundwork for migration governance that is humane, effective and development-oriented, strengthening pathways for safer, more dignified migration and enhancing protection for those most at risk.