The event was convened by the Council for Education in the Commonwealth, the International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd), RESULTS UK, and Save the Children, and was held in the lead-up to the prestigious Education World Forum (EWF). The gathering brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, and education advocates united by a shared commitment to improving learning outcomes across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Malawi's Voice on the Global Stage

In his opening statement, H.E. Bisika spoke with clarity and conviction about the challenges and opportunities facing African education systems. He reaffirmed that foundational learning — the ability of every child to read, write, and perform basic numeracy — remains the cornerstone of human capital development and long-term socio-economic transformation.

"Across Africa, the challenge is no longer identifying what works, but ensuring effective, system-wide implementation," he stated, calling on partners to move beyond fragmented, short-term approaches toward coherent, sustained investment in education systems.

The High Commissioner outlined Malawi's commitment to four core pillars: scaling evidence-based interventions such as structured pedagogy and targeted instruction; strengthening early childhood education to ensure school readiness; enhancing teacher effectiveness through sustained professional development; and improving data systems to guide policy and accountability.

FLEX 2026: Malawi Welcomes Africa to Lilongwe

A centrepiece of the High Commissioner's address was Malawi's role as host of the third edition of the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2026), to be held in Lilongwe from 15–17 July 2026. Building on the foundations laid by Sierra Leone in 2023 and Rwanda in 2024, FLEX has grown into a truly African-led platform grounded in shared experience, evidence, and practical problem-solving.

Under the theme "From commitments to results: Delivering foundational learning at scale," FLEX 2026 will bring together policymakers, thought leaders, development partners, implementers, and other education actors to catalyse the scaling of evidence-based interventions. It represents an opportunity for African governments, civil society, and international partners to align their efforts around interventions that deliver real, measurable improvements in learning outcomes — and to accelerate progress toward ending learning poverty across the continent.

Financing Education: A Call for Alignment

With global financing landscapes shifting, H.E. Bisika used the platform to stress the importance of domestic resource mobilisation, efficient use of available funds, and the alignment of external support with government-led national priorities. He called for robust accountability mechanisms — including the FLEX Monitoring Framework, the Foundational Learning Action Tracker, and the African Union's scorecard — to ensure that commitments translate into results.

His message was direct: financing education for shared purpose means making every dollar count, measured not by inputs, but by learning outcomes.

A Moment of Diplomatic Significance

H.E. Bisika was received by Mr Stephen Twigg, Chair of the Council for Education in the Commonwealth, and Mr Joseph Nhan-O'Reilly, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the International Parliamentary Network for Education — a reception that underscores the growing recognition of Malawi's leadership role in shaping the African education agenda.

For the Malawi High Commission in London, this engagement reflects a broader diplomatic mission: to amplify Malawi's voice in multilateral spaces, forge meaningful partnerships, and ensure that Malawi's development priorities resonate at the highest levels of international policy-making.

Looking Ahead

As Malawi prepares to welcome delegates to Lilongwe for FLEX 2026 from 15–17 July, the High Commission remains committed to championing education as both a fundamental human right and a strategic development priority. The summit promises to be a defining moment — not just for Malawi, but for foundational learning across Africa.

For more information on FLEX 2026 or the work of the Malawi High Commission in London, please visit our official website or follow us on our social media channels.

Honourable Dr. George Chaponda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Malawi, was in London this week to participate in key Commonwealth engagements.

The Minister attended the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting, which took place at Lancaster House. The meeting brought together foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth to deliberate on matters of shared interest and to strengthen cooperation among member states.

The Commonwealth remains an important platform for collaboration among its member countries. Through ministerial meetings such as CFAMM, foreign ministers are able to exchange perspectives on global developments, review policy priorities, and identify opportunities for collective action across the organisation.

Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening multilateral cooperation and advancing the shared goals of the Commonwealth. These engagements also contribute to preparations for future high-level meetings within the organisation, including the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

While in London, the Minister also attended the annual Commonwealth Day service held at Westminster Abbey. The service was attended by representatives from across the Commonwealth and was presided over by King Charles III.

Commonwealth Day is observed each year by the organisation’s member states and provides an opportunity to celebrate the shared values and principles that unite the Commonwealth’s diverse community of nations.

The participation of Malawi in these engagements reflects the country’s continued commitment to multilateral diplomacy and to the principles of cooperation, dialogue and partnership that underpin the Commonwealth.

Through its membership in the Commonwealth, Malawi continues to engage with other member states on issues of mutual interest, including sustainable development, economic cooperation and international collaboration.

On Tuesday the 20th January 2026, the Malawi–Scotland partnership was further strengthened when Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Honorary Patron of the Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP), attended the Anthu Pamodzi photographic exhibition at Edinburgh City Chambers. The visit formed part of events marking the 20th anniversary of the Partnership, which continues to promote meaningful people-to-people links between Malawi and Scotland.

The exhibition visit was hosted by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge, and brought together contributors whose work reflects the depth and diversity of cooperation between Malawian and Scottish institutions. The Scotland Malawi Partnership connects schools, universities, churches, civil society organisations and communities across Scotland with counterparts in Malawi, supporting collaboration in areas including health, education, clean water, renewable energy and sustainable livelihoods.

Malawi’s longstanding relationship with Scotland, which dates back more than 160 years, is rooted in shared history and enduring friendship. Since gaining independence in 1964, Malawi has continued to build on these ties through partnerships founded on mutual respect, solidarity and shared development goals.

During the visit, Her Royal Highness met with contributors to the exhibition and engaged with members of the Partnership, viewing photographs that showcase joint projects and community-level impact in Malawi. To mark the 20th anniversary, she was presented with a commemorative publication on the work of the Partnership, cut an anniversary cake, and received flowers from a Scottish student involved in a school partnership with Malawi.

Commenting on the occasion, SMP Chair Professor Jeremy Bagg highlighted the importance of sustained engagement between the peoples of Malawi and Scotland and noted the continued support of the Partnership’s Honorary Patron since its establishment in 2005.

While Malawi’s High Commissioner, Dr Bisika commented:

“I appreciate the enduring people-to-people friendship that exists between Malawi and Scotland, and I thank Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal for personally contributing to the Scotland Malawi Partnership Malawi Appeal during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The exhibition, titled Anthu Pamodzi—meaning “People Together” in Chichewa—celebrates the shared efforts and friendships that underpin Malawi–Scotland cooperation. First launched in Killearn in September 2025, the exhibition will continue to tour across Scotland, including stops in Edinburgh, Innerleithen, Inverurie and other locations, further raising awareness of Malawi’s partnerships and the positive impact of collaborative development initiatives.