The Embassy of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed on Tuesday at the official Japanese residence in Mozambique, the agreement of the Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project for Stabilisation in Cabo Delgado, budgeted at about ten million dollars.
“This agreement that was initialled is to rebuild the various infrastructures that were destroyed and also includes other smaller projects,” said Hajime Kimura, the Japanese ambassador to Mozambique.
According to the UNDP resident representative, António Molpeceres, the Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project for the Stabilisation of Cabo Delgado “is part of the important recovery efforts of the province,” saying he expected it to benefit around 405,000 people, half of whom are women in several districts, including Palma, Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia and Quissanga, by mid 2024.
With the contribution of ten million dollars from Japan, the project aims to re-establish the presence of the Government, restore basic services and livelihoods and contribute to the protection and resumption of economic development investments from the public and private sectors in Cabo Delgado province.
“I would like to reaffirm UNDP’s commitment to continue supporting the Government of Mozambique’s efforts to stabilize the northern region and thank again the contribution of the Japanese Government and the other development partners under the Stabilization Programme”, said António Molpeceres.
For the representative of the Integrated Development Agency of the North (ADIN), Haggai Maunze, “this agreement aims to create conditions for the implementation of the reconstruction project that was drawn up by UNDP in the Stabilisation Programme which, in turn, is aligned with the reconstruction plan for Cabo Delgado, designed and approved by the Government”.
“In Cabo Delgado, we need $300 million for the reconstruction of the five districts: Quissanga, Macomia, Mocímboa da Praia, Muidumbe and Palma. In the specific case of this project that we witnessed today, it will help the implementation of actions in the area of infrastructures”, Haggai Maunze said.
Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicate that, after five years of violence, the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado continued to worsen and the number of displaced persons increased 20 per cent, with the total reaching 946,508 in the first semester of 2022.
