President Daniel Chapo has announced that 14,000 Mozambican girls will each receive 100,000 meticais in non-repayable grants to start their own businesses, under an economic empowerment initiative backed by the World Bank.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 9 July, at the opening of the 8th National Conference on Women and Gender, held in Maputo through Thursday. The conference forms part of the government's broader efforts to promote the economic autonomy of women and girls through access to financing, vocational training, entrepreneurship, technology, markets, and value chains.
According to President Chapo, the programme has already reached 72,000 young people across the country, of whom approximately 56,000 — around 70% of all beneficiaries — are women. Participants will receive entrepreneurship training before being awarded the 100,000-meticais grant, with no repayment required, to launch their businesses.
'Each girl will receive 100,000 meticais with no need to repay it, to start her business,' Chapo said. The initiative is framed within the national agenda to 2030, which identifies poverty alleviation and the elimination of violence as key priorities.
The President argued that the two priorities are directly linked, noting that economic dependence can limit women's ability to leave situations of violence and to make decisions about their own lives. 'Empowering women means increasing their income, means increasing their freedom, allowing them to decide over the resources they produce,' he said.
Chapo also highlighted a range of financial inclusion and female entrepreneurship support programmes, including Pro Mulher, Meu KIT, Meu Emprego, the Youth Initiatives Support Fund, and the Local Economic Development Fund. He cited the case of a woman from Xai-Xai who, following the death of her husband in 2013, began reselling bread with an initial capital of just 200 meticais and eventually put all three of her children through school. 'Investing in Mozambican women is truly investing in the growth and development of the Mozambican economy,' he said.
At the conference, Chapo called for the establishment of a Mozambique National Chapter of the African Union's initiative for the Financial and Economic Inclusion of Women and Youth — Wi-Fi 2030. The proposal aims to mobilise financing, create opportunities, and bring institutions closer together. The President also proposed the creation of a global network for social justice, zero violence, and poverty alleviation for girls and women.
The elimination of gender-based violence was also highlighted by the President, who called on men to take an active role in changing behaviours and in raising children on the basis of respect and equality. 'Let us make zero violence a national cause,' he urged, arguing that gender equality is the responsibility of society as a whole.
The 8th National Conference on Women and Gender is being held under the theme 'Unite to Act, Empower Women and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence', bringing together representatives from government, the private sector, civil society, academia, non-governmental organisations, communities, and development partners.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/09/negocios/banco-mundial-apoia-14-mil-raparigas-a-comecarem-os-seus-negocios/
