The government has stated that social protection programs should be viewed as an investment in people, not just as a cost. This statement was made on Monday (March 16) by the Minister of Labor, Gender and Social Action, Ivete Alane, at the opening of the first National Symposium on Economic Inclusion, held in Maputo, according to Lusa.
“We want to assert that social protection should not be seen merely as a cost, but as an investment in people, communities, and the economic future of Mozambique,” said the minister, emphasizing the importance of programs that empower, integrate, and transform society.
As an example, Ivete Alane highlighted the Productive Social Action Program (PASP), which in 2025 reached nearly 130,000 vulnerable people with work capacity.
“The PASP demonstrates that social protection can go beyond immediate poverty relief, serving as a true platform for economic inclusion. By combining public works, support for income-generating initiatives, and cash transfers, the program helps increase household income, strengthen food security, and promote the economic participation of women and youth,” she explained.
In 2025, the PASP registered 129,555 participants, of whom 65,551 received cash support, illustrating the program’s scale and the need to expand coverage and improve payment regularity. Among the activities carried out were the opening and improvement of access roads, sanitation, planting of fruit and shade trees, and mangrove reforestation. The minister also mentioned other social protection programs, such as the Basic Social Subsidy and Direct Social Support, designed for immediate protection but with the potential to generate positive impacts on the local economy. “Regular cash support allows families to purchase food, medicine, and essential goods, stimulating small businesses and boosting local economic circuits,” she stated.
Ivete Alane also highlighted digital inclusion as a transformative factor. To date, 372,478 electronic accounts have been opened for selected beneficiaries, making payment systems safer, more transparent, and efficient, and allowing thousands of citizens to be integrated into formal financial transaction mechanisms.
“Today, talking about modern social protection also means talking about access to digital payments and economic opportunities. These programs are opening doors to a new form of economic and social participation in Mozambique,” concluded the minister.
Source: Diário Económico
