The Maputo Municipal Council has financed 287 projects through the Local Economic Development Fund (FDEL), an initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, fostering economic inclusion, and creating new employment opportunities in the Mozambican capital.
The funding was disbursed this week during a ceremony presided over by Maputo Mayor Razaque Manhique, who described the programme as another important step in stimulating the local economy and supporting citizens engaged in income-generating activities.
“Today we are writing another important chapter in the history of local economic development in our city,” said Manhique, noting that the initiative provides a concrete opportunity for transforming business ideas into sustainable enterprises.
According to the mayor, the FDEL is a strategic government instrument designed to bring financial resources closer to communities, encourage production, and promote income generation.
“It is a structural measure that brings financial resources closer to communities, promotes economic inclusion, stimulates entrepreneurship, generates employment, and creates opportunities for thousands of Mozambicans,” he stated.
“It is a structural measure that brings financial resources closer to communities, promotes economic inclusion, stimulates entrepreneurship, generates employment, and creates opportunities for thousands of Mozambicans”
Razaque Manhique
Manhique also expressed gratitude to the Government for implementing the programme, emphasizing that the fund responds to real community needs and contributes to strengthening the local economic fabric.
During the event, he reminded beneficiaries that the funds granted are loans that must be managed responsibly and repaid to ensure that other citizens can also benefit from the programme.
“The resources you receive today belong to the Mozambican people and represent a vote of confidence by the State in your abilities,” he said.
The mayor further encouraged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely, stressing that repayment should be viewed not only as a financial obligation but also as an act of solidarity and social responsibility.
“Repaying the funds received should not be seen merely as an administrative requirement, but as a way of enabling other residents to have the same opportunity to improve their lives,” he added.
On the occasion, Manhique announced that a second phase of the programme has already been secured and will have a larger budget allocation than the current one. The municipality is currently working on criteria that will allow more people to benefit, while also considering previously submitted projects that were not funded due to resource limitations.
He also revealed that the Municipal Council is evaluating measures to reduce the costs associated with obtaining the documentation required from young applicants seeking financial support.
“Young people seeking financing generally do not have sufficient resources to cover all the initial costs required by the process,” he observed.
Among the beneficiaries is Esperança Sitoe, promoter of a capoeira-related project, who expressed confidence in the initiative.
“I hope to implement the project, achieve the expected results, generate profit, and repay the amount that was lent to us,” she said.
The Local Economic Development Fund (FDEL) is a Government initiative that supports small entrepreneurs and income-generating activities, contributing to local economic development and the creation of employment opportunities across communities.
