Mozambique is historically one of the priority countries of the Italian Cooperation. In fact, it remains among the poorest in the world (185th out of 191 countries in the United Nations Human Development rankings for 2021) and has always been linked to Italy by a strong friendship. The goal therefore is to continue to actively support its development, in line with the main political and programmatic instruments used by the Mozambican government and the United Nations.
Since 1982, Italy has disbursed donation funds to Mozambique for approximately 890 million euros. The sectors in which Italian support has historically concentrated are: agriculture and rural development; education, technical-professional and university training; healthcare. Programs for around 250 million euros are currently underway, including grants and subsidized loans.
Mozambique is particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change. In this context, during 2019 (between March and April) the central and northern provinces of the country were hit by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, which caused damage and losses of over 3 billion dollars. The Italian commitment in the emergency and post-cyclone reconstruction phases, still ongoing, is very remarkable. First of all, the granting of an aid credit of 35 million euro was announced, the concrete use of which is currently being studied in favor of the recovery of productive activities in the agricultural sector, with the institutional partners (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). In addition, the field surgical hospital set up during the emergency, worth 2.2 million euros, was definitively donated to the central hospital of the city of Beira after a period of training of local medical personnel by protection operators Italian civil.
Moreover, 2.7 million Euros have been allocated for the restoration of services and the economic-social fabric of the populations affected by the two cyclones; other interventions concerned the provinces of Manica and Sofala: 1 million euro for the improvement of the living conditions of displaced persons in the area of the city of Pemba and the district of Metuge, in Cabo Delgado, 500,000 euro for the supply of subsistence means and economic opportunities for young people and women in displaced communities and 605,000 euros through the Manica Delegation of the Agricultural Development Fund (FDA), which depend upon the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, have been allocated to food security measures.
The presence of Italian civil society is significant, with over 30 organizations active in the country.
For further information on the activities of the Italian Cooperation in Mozambique, it is suggested that you consult the web page of the AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) office in Maputo at the following internet address: https://maputo.aics.gov.it/