The government has appointed the former Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Augusta Maíta, to the position of executive director of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Moçambique. The decision was taken during an ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers and is aimed at managing significant US financial support of 31.6 million meticals (500 million dollars), according to Lusa.
In a statement released by the Council of Ministers, government spokesman Filimão Suaze confirmed that the new institution will be responsible for managing the funding granted by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). This support includes a total investment of 33.9 million meticals (537 million dollars), of which 31.6 million meticals (500 million dollars) come from the United States and 2.3 million meticals (37 million dollars) from the Mozambican state.
According to the information, Lídia Cardoso is now heading up MCA Mozambique, a temporary organisation that will operate for the next seven years. The US funding, formalised with the signing of Compact II in Washington on 20 September, will go towards the construction of a new bridge over the Licungo river in Zambézia province and the implementation of a ring road in the same region, which has been affected by cyclones in recent years.
The project includes the construction of a 1,800 metre long bridge, located around 5,000 metres downstream from the current crossing, and the construction of 16 kilometres of new access road that will connect the bridge to National Road Number 1.
“The new institution will be responsible for managing the funding provided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).This support includes a total investment of 33.9 million meticals (537 million dollars), of which 31.6 million meticals (500 million dollars) come from the United States and 2.3 million meticals (37 million dollars) from the Mozambican state.”
The new project, called the Mozambique Coastal Connectivity and Resilience Pact, stands out for being the second MCC financing in Mozambique since 2007. The overall investment includes 19.6 million meticals (310.5 million dollars) for rural connectivity and transport projects, almost 5.2 million meticals (83.5 million dollars) for rural roads and 1.8 million meticals (30 million dollars) for reforms and investment in agriculture projects.
In addition, the structural component of 6.3 million meticals (100 million dollars) is aimed at improving fishing and seafood productivity and strengthening climate resilience through sustainable practices and ecological benefits, such as carbon credits.