The Canadian government announced this Friday, March 15, that it will grant around 50 million dollars (3.1 billion meticals) to Mozambique to fund programmes in the areas of sexual reproductive health, maternal and child health, promotion of the rights of girls and adolescents, gender equality, mental health, among others.
According to the Agencia de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), this was announced by the Minister for International Development, Ahmed Hussein, who is visiting the country, at the end of an audience granted to him by the Prime Minister, Adriano Maleiane.
Ahmed Hussein explained that the amount will help strengthen the financial capacity of six initiatives, including 20 million dollars (1.2 billion meticais) for the reproductive health and rights programme for adolescent girls and women in Inhambane province.
The organisation reveals that the other initiative budgeted at seven million dollars (442.4 million meticals), supported by the World Bank, aims to improve the quality of health data, public policies, decision-making and the availability of sexual and reproductive health services in health units.
The funding also includes the addition of the Rapariga project, budgeted at 12.5 million dollars (790 million meticals), in a consortium with other international agencies, namely the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA and UN Women.
Another investment of five million dollars (316 million meticals) with the University of Washington is aimed at mental health care in the provinces of Sofala and Manica.
Ahmed Hussen added that the sixth initiative, at a cost of 1.3 million dollars (82 million meticais), aims to improve the literacy, numeracy and other skills of around 3,000 adolescent girls. “Women and girls deserve it. They must reach their full potential and be able to participate actively in their communities. Canada will continue to put women and girls at the centre of everything it does.”
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Manuel Gonçalves, revealed that during the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Canadian Minister, the parties reviewed bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“The Mozambican government praises Canada’s support for the DDR process (Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of the extinct Renamo residual force), humanitarian assistance to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado province and natural disasters,” said the deputy minister.
It should be noted that relations between Canada and Mozambique date back to 1976, when diplomatic relations were established.
