The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a budget of $17 million (1 billion meticais) to support the reconstruction programs in Cabo Delgado, a northern province of Mozambique affected by terrorism since 2017.
In a statement cited by Lusa news agency, the Bank notes that the funds are expected to contribute to the creation of 24,000 jobs for young people aged 18 to 35, with 50% of the amount allocated to support women, benefiting a total of 100,000 people.
“Youth unemployment currently stands at 25% of the province’s population, mostly made up of young people who are neither employed nor enrolled in education or training,” said Babatunde Omilola, Manager for Human Capital, Youth, and Skills Development at the AfDB’s Regional Office. Quoted in the note, he explained that the fund will be allocated under the Resilient Investment Project for Socioeconomic Empowerment, Peace and Security (RISE-PS), which aims to address Cabo Delgado’s fragilities through empowerment.
“The program positions young people as peacebuilders, unlocking their potential through skills development, entrepreneurship, and decent job opportunities to support economic stabilization efforts,” he emphasized.
Omilola added that among the various initiatives to be implemented, RISE-PS will also, within the same funding package, establish an Investment Center for Peace and Security, to be coordinated by Mozambique’s Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN).
Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado — a province rich in natural resources, especially gas — has been the stage of an armed insurgency that has caused thousands of deaths and triggered a humanitarian crisis with over one million internally displaced people.
In April, attacks spread to the neighboring province of Niassa. One of the most serious incidents occurred in the Niassa Reserve and the Mariri Environmental Center, in the district of Mecula, where non-state armed groups attacked facilities, looted property, and destroyed camps and a park aircraft. These actions resulted in the deaths of at least two people and forced over 2,000 people to flee, 55% of whom were children.
Source: DE
