With high unemployment among health care professionals, an agreement between Malawi and Israel will see the southern African nation send trained nurses and midwives to Israeli health institutions. The Malawian government has said the bilateral deal, signed in April, will benefit health care workers by giving them a job, new skills and a way to support their families through remittances.

This offers a chance for unemployed Malawian nurses, like Christina Jere, who is enthusiastic about the prospect.

"I would definitely go. I have been qualified for three years and I haven't even been called for an interview," Jere told DW.

"Malawi is my home, but why would I stay in a country where I have spent so much on college fees without a job?"

Elizabeth Gondwe, another trained nurse, has similar aspirations. "I've stayed here for a long time without being employed. I'm so excited because here in Malawi I was unable to help my family," said Gondwe, adding that she eventually envisions returning to Malawi with more skills and experience.

Criticism of Malawi-Israel health care workers' deal

Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of sending skilled health care workers abroad. A similar deal agreed in 2023, in which Malawians went to work in Israel's agricultural sector, caused uproar amid reports of exploitation, poor working conditions and Malawian workers being deported for breaching their work contracts.

Critics have also said Malawi's health system is under-resourced and cannot afford to lose trained personnel. Malawi's nurse-to-patient ratio is about one-third below that of the ratio of at least one nurse per 1,000 patients recommended by the World Health Organization. 

While the deal has been seen as a win for the Malawian government, observers have also questioned the government's motives, seeing this as a political move rather than taking the interests of Malawian citizens into account.

In addition, Malawi's policies regarding Israel break with the existing trends of other countries in the Southern African Development Community. Notably, South Africa has accused the Israeli leadership of war crimes in Gaza during Israel's ongoing war on Hamas. Malawi, in contrast, opened an embassy in Tel Aviv in 2024 and is seen by Israel as a strong ally in Africa. 

Lastly, watching the Malawian government invest in training health care workers only to see them encouraged to move abroad, taking their skills and knowledge with them, has stirred debate in Malawi. However, Mercy Mwalilino, a practicing midwife in Malawi, told DW that some nurses are earning as little as 3,453 Malawian Kwacha ($2, €1,75) a day. According to Mwalilino, only a quarter of qualified nurses have found employment within the country's health care system. 

How will Malawian health care workers fare in Israel?

Concerns have also been raised about working conditions in Israel and whether proper protections are in place for the Malawian workers.

The previous initiative, which saw Malawian agricultural workers go to Israel, was stopped after the workers complained of difficult working conditions, left their jobs to work in the informal sector or sought asylum in Israel. In contrast, this bilateral deal for the nurses was driven by private labor recruiters.

But for Mwalilino, the bilateral agreement between Israel and Malawi gives a sense of security to the deal.

"The Malawi government is finalizing this deal in conjunction with the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi, which is responsible for looking into all those conditions for the nurses before sending them there," she told DW, adding that those willing to go can earn $200 to $300 a month.

When asked about the possibility of Malawians potentially working in a dangerous part of Israel threatened by war, Mwalilino admitted this was a concern. "Those in dilemma because of the security risks will not be forced to go." 

Will Malawian health care workers return?

Other potential candidates, like Esther Malanga, are more circumspect about working in the Middle Eastern country.

"Adapting to a new language, culture and work environment could be a challenge, and could impact my personal life. Initially I would consider working in Israel for one to two years," she said.

Malawian officials have justified the policy by saying nurses and midwives would be upskilled in Israel before coming back when their contracts are over. For Malanga, that would be an attractive option.

"Going to Israel would help me improve patient care and learn about different health systems, approaches and technologies that I could bring back to Malawi," she told DW.

However, others like Christina Jere aren't sure about returning. "Going to Israel is something exciting, and I don't think I would come back," she said.

Josephine Mahachi contributed to this article.

Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu