Mozambique
OVERVIEW
Mozambique is a country in transition. Located in southern Africa, it borders six countries and has more than 2,500 km of Indian Ocean coastline. Following its long civil war, Mozambique has now successfully made the transition to peace, stability, and strong economic growth. In 2009, the country held its fourth presidential and parliamentary elections; its third municipal elections were held in 2008. Mozambique’s status as an essential link between landlocked neighbors and global markets, as well as its economic ties to the industrial heartland of South Africa, underscore the fact that the country’s economic, political, and social progress is vital to the interests of the region. However, the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, as well as high infant mortality, have resulted in the distressingly low life expectancy of just 42 years. USAID’s programs in democracy, economic growth, health, and education address these challenges and opportunities.
PROGRAMS
GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY
For the past five years, USAID has worked to increase transparency and accountability in local governments and improve their capacity to deliver quality public services to all Mozambicans. USAID supports a capacity-building program that benefits members of the Attorney General’s Central Office to Combat Corruption, as well as prosecutors and investigators from all 11 provinces. Improving democracy and governance is a top priority for USAID, and activities are being developed that focus on ensuring accountability, reducing corruption, and building civil society capacity.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: HEALTH
Despite some of the worst health indicators in Africa, Mozambique is making significant progress in reducing mortality rates and improving access to primary health care services. USAID and the Ministry of Health are building the capacity of the public health system to ensure that quality basic health services are more accessible to the rural poor. To help prevent malaria—Mozambique’s most serious health threat—USAID has purchased and distributed over a million insecticide-treated bednets. With USAID assistance, 87 percent of children are now fully immunized by their first birthday, and over 200 health facilities have been rehabilitated and equipped.
Sixteen percent of Mozambicans—1.7 million people—have HIV/AIDS; 58 percent of that total are women. USAID provides two-thirds of all the antiretroviral drugs taken by Mozambicans and supports Ministry of Health efforts to ensure availability of laboratory reagents and HIV/AIDS rapid test kits. Technical assistance improves the logistical management of medicines and medical supplies. USAID-managed mass media and community-based messaging reaches over 7 million Mozambicans with information on how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: EDUCATION
In Mozambique, 94 percent of girls enroll in primary school. Yet only 11 percent continue on to study at the secondary level, and just 1 percent moves to the college level. Among children who finish primary school, six out of every ten leave the system without appropriate skills in reading, writing, and math. Over the next five years, one of USAID’s primary goals will be to expand opportunities for quality education and training.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Although the poverty rate is decreasing, Mozambique is still among the world’s poorest countries, with 54 percent of the country living below the poverty line. USAID is helping thousands of vulnerable households improve their food security by adopting more productive agriculture technologies, improving nutrition and health practices, and connecting farmers to agricultural markets. USAID is also developing and strengthening farmer associations and agribusinesses; sales of agricultural commodities through these organizations increased from $12.5 million to $14.0 million during 2008 alone.
Mozambique’s economic growth has been strong and sustained, with the gross domestic product growing at 4.5 percent in 2009. USAID is helping the Government of Mozambique and the private sector expand international market access for Mozambican products and enhance Mozambique’s competitiveness by promoting labor-intensive exports, supporting sectors with high potential for job creation such as tourism, and improving the business climate. USAID supports tourism development zones and a framework for investments that help protect Mozambique’s environment and natural resources. Through a public-private partnership, USAID is helping to reestablish Gorongosa Park as an ecotourism destination and to establish a marine reserve on Lake Niassa.
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