Half a century after independence, the country continues to face serious challenges in combating poverty and promoting sustainable development. While there have been isolated advances in areas such as gender equity and environmental responsibility, setbacks persist in key sectors, particularly the socio-economic sphere.
In an interview with DE, Sam Jones, Senior Researcher at the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), reflects personally on the country’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on the most recent data, he analyzes the national development strengths and regressions, highlighting poverty as the main obstacle to collective well-being and inclusive growth.
This year marked 50 years of the country’s independence. The goal here is to understand where we are regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and where we are heading. What challenges does Mozambique face? Based on the latest data, what are the country’s main advances and setbacks in achieving the SDGs?
The SDGs cover many areas. If we look at the dashboard of the most recent indicators, we see some progress and positive aspects. For example, in the area of responsible consumption and production, Mozambique is in a strong position. In a way, this unfortunately reflects our level of industrialization. Our production is not modern and therefore does not generate as much pollution as in other countries. But in any case, Mozambique is not a major polluter. It is quite responsible in terms of consumption and production, which is important, especially when we talk about climate responsibility and related matters.
In the area of gender equity, there has also been some progress. Obviously, everything is not perfect, but we now have, for example, more women in Parliament and leadership positions, which is very important. There is also progress in gender equity in schools. Compared to many other countries, there are positive aspects.
The major challenge, unfortunately, lies in the socio-economic area and poverty. As we all know, we are not seeing significant advances in this indicator. On the contrary, due to various factors, we have observed some setbacks. This means that poverty has been increasing rather than decreasing, which brings a series of other challenges for the country. Poverty is perhaps the most important indicator of well-being, but unfortunately, there has not been enough progress to be satisfied.
How do you assess the state’s capacity to produce and use reliable data to monitor progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals?
I would say that, compared to countries with similar development levels, we are doing a reasonable job in data production.
More than 90% of SDG indicators have data available with some regularity, which allows for consistent monitoring of progress. However, there are important gaps, especially in monitoring the informal sector and employment—crucial areas since most people work in the informal economy. We lack detailed information about the kind of work people do, their income levels, and job quality. Without this data, it becomes difficult to evaluate the real impact of public policies on people’s well-being. I also believe we need to invest in longitudinal methods—tracking the same groups or beneficiaries over time—to truly measure the effects of policies and adjust interventions accordingly.
Still on the issue of reliable data production to track SDG progress in the country—do you believe the government’s new initiative to digitize access to information is a welcome move?
Yes, I think it’s a very positive initiative. Digitalization improves data quality because it enables automated controls that prevent errors—such as recording people with non-existent ages. Moreover, it allows for checking whether enumerators are actually in the field, reducing the risk of fraud. However, I must point out the challenges: continuous access to power is necessary, data collectors must be well trained, and this is a costly, gradual process. It is not an immediate solution, but I believe it’s a very promising path for improving data reliability in the medium term.
In your view, how can the country sustainably finance the investments needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, considering current debt levels and dependence on foreign aid?
The main challenge is the limited financial resources. When we look at the government’s budget and divide it by the population, we have around 9,600 meticais (about 120 dollars) per person per year—a very low amount to meet all the country’s needs. After subtracting salaries and debt service, only about 2,000 meticais (25 dollars) per person remain to invest in infrastructure and essential services, which is clearly insufficient.
The situation is worsened by the decline in external aid, which has been redirected to other international priorities, such as internal security in donor countries. Therefore, I believe we need to diversify our funding sources. In the long term, private sector growth is key—but that takes time.
In the short term, climate financing mechanisms are crucial, given that Mozambique is one of the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, even though it has contributed very little to their causes. At the same time, traditional external aid should be valued and made more consistent so that the government can plan long-term and avoid project fragmentation.
And what about the exploitation of mineral resources like gas? Can or should that play a central role in financing sustainable development?
We cannot ignore the resources we have—they are a great opportunity. But how we manage this wealth is essential. Benefits must reach the population through fair and transparent taxation. It’s a delicate balance, as investors expect both risk and profit, but transparency is key so that everyone understands the terms of contracts—even if some details remain confidential for commercial reasons. The state must strengthen its technical capacity to negotiate and monitor these projects to avoid losses and unclear practices. Even small technical teams—10 to 15 people—can make a big difference. Mozambique should follow the example of other countries that dedicate larger teams to oversight, ensuring that profits are effectively used for national development.
Are macroeconomic or institutional reforms essential to accelerate progress toward the SDGs over the next decade?
Yes, they are essential. The world is constantly changing and there are no fixed recipes. For example, no one knows what gas prices will be like in 10 years, especially with climate policies and carbon taxes. That’s why the government must set clear priorities—it’s not possible to focus on everything at once. I believe we should invest in export-based economic growth that creates jobs for the majority and in reducing regional inequalities, as Maputo often acts like an economic island disconnected from the rest of the country.
To achieve this, we need affordable energy at sustainable costs, green energy to avoid future restrictions, and improvements in strategic infrastructure. We must also facilitate access for small farms to international value chains and ensure demand for their produce to motivate farmers. Finally, we must not forget the importance of social protection systems that guarantee minimum living conditions and encourage local entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas.
How can the government improve coordination between ministries and levels of governance in implementing public policies linked to the SDGs?
The government has made progress, especially with the National Development Strategy (ENDE), which has improved coherence across ministries. However, the biggest challenge remains financing. There is a serious issue when ministries receive funds directly from donors, outside the state budget, because this causes fragmentation and hampers coordination. I believe the solution is to resume budget support mechanisms, where donors fund the overall government budget instead of isolated ministry projects. Donor-led projects are only justified in emergencies, not for long-term strategic plans. I also support creating specific budget structures, such as a social production fund with guaranteed funding from multiple donors over two to five years, but managed directly by the government.
Currently, funding for social production is irregular, which hinders planning and execution. We need honesty to acknowledge this reality and prioritize sustainable strategies with clear and realistic steps. Financing, prioritization, coordination, and transparency are crucial to achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Natural resources have long been exploited, and now with gas, there’s a renewed push. But as you mentioned earlier, poverty reduction remains timid. How do you explain this disconnect? Mozambique is growing (with projected growth of x% in the next three to four years), yet poverty remains high. What’s going on? What should be done to create better conditions and combat poverty?
It’s important to understand a few key points. Mozambique’s economic growth rate has slowed significantly over the past decade. From the end of the civil war in 1992 until about 2010–2012, there was consistent and relatively fast growth that helped reduce poverty, though not as fast as desired. At that time, growth involved various sectors like agriculture and services—it was relatively balanced.
After the discovery of coal and, more recently, natural gas (from 2014–2015 onwards), growth became insufficient. Crucially, per capita growth has been virtually zero—this is a reality we must face. Without per capita growth, we cannot expect meaningful poverty reduction.
Moreover, economic growth has increasingly depended on natural resource extraction, particularly gas. In 2022 or 2023, about 50% of growth came from this sector. However, these projects have a limited impact on job creation and inject little money directly into the local economy. Much of the gas export revenue stays abroad or returns to foreign investors.
This pattern, common in resource-rich countries, does not quickly improve people’s well-being. Positive impacts tend to come later, through fair taxation and local content value chains—but those are difficult goals in a country with a weakly diversified economy. Global companies dominate, and integration with local SMEs—which are still developing—is limited. It’s a slow process that requires time and investment. We must also consider the economic shocks and natural disasters the country has faced, which further hinder progress. Investors, both domestic and foreign, need trust and predictability. Without political, economic, and social stability, no one invests—and without investment, there is no growth. For example, last year’s protests and looting of shops and factories harmed the country’s image. Reputation takes years to build and can be destroyed in seconds, hurting sectors like tourism and domestic investment.
To accelerate progress, creating a stable environment—with political, economic, and social security—is absolutely essential to encourage investment and sustainable growth.
What is the role that foreign aid and multilateral institutions should play in Mozambique today, especially considering 50 years of independence?
In my personal view, it’s essential to understand Mozambique’s historical context. The country was born 50 years ago and faced enormous challenges in the first 25 years after independence. We emerged from an extremely unequal colonial system. Portuguese colonialism left behind very little infrastructure or human capital. Portugal itself was a poor country at the time and invested very little in its colonies. For instance, one of the first Mozambicans to obtain a university degree in economics was Sérgio Vieira, who graduated abroad in 1967—this shows how difficult our starting point was.
These deep structural challenges cannot be solved in a few years. Then came the civil war, worsened by external interference, and today we still face natural disasters and climate crises that increase the pressure on the country. Even just to maintain stability, Mozambique faces enormous hurdles.
We must be realistic: the responsibility for development lies with us, the Mozambicans, but we cannot pretend we’ll do everything alone. There are moral obligations due to history, and global obligations—especially regarding climate justice and international solidarity.
It is vital that the country leads its own development, but with consistent, predictable, and transparent external support. As I’ve mentioned, with an average budget of only 9,600 meticais per person per year (120 dollars), we cannot go very far. We need to significantly increase our resources and use them strategically, responsibly, and transparently. If we do so—with realism and strategy—we can make real progress.
Text: Nário Sixpene
