The European Union (EU) has provided $2.2 million to support the implementation of a project promoting community participation in Mozambique, covering 32 districts and municipalities, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening mechanisms for decentralized governance and civic inclusion in the country.
According to Lusa, developed by the Association for Community Legal Support and Assistance (AAAJC), the “Giving Voice and Power to the Grassroots” (VozPoBa) project took place over the past three years and had as its main objective to strengthen institutions for community participation and consultation, promoting greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes at the local level.
Speaking at the opening of the National Conference on Decentralization and Local Development, held in Maputo, AAAJC Executive Director Rui Caetano highlighted that the initiative brought communities, local authorities, and cooperation partners closer together through the organization of planning fairs, development observatories, and roundtables.
“These actions have contributed to increasing transparency and participation in the decentralized governance process, creating effective spaces for dialogue among the various stakeholders,” he stated.
The project also stood out for its focus on social inclusion, ensuring the active participation of young people, women, people with disabilities, and the elderly in the formulation and monitoring of public policies. According to Rui Caetano, this approach strengthened the legitimacy of the Community Participation and Consultation Institutions (IPCC) and bolstered public confidence in decentralization processes.
The initiative was implemented in collaboration with various civil society organizations and in coordination with international partners, notably the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), helping to avoid duplication of efforts and improve the effectiveness of interventions.
For his part, the EU representative, Mohamed Muragy, emphasized that support for the project was based on the conviction that effective decentralization depends on the existence of functional mechanisms for citizen participation, inclusive dialogue, and accountability at the local level.
“After three years of implementation, it is encouraging to see the progress achieved, with the revitalization of spaces for local participation and the strengthening of coordination between civil society, public institutions, and representative bodies,” he noted.
He added that the project also helped generate evidence and systematize community input, thereby influencing the debate on public policy and development priorities.
