Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) announced on Thursday support of €4.7 million for rural communities worst affected by the political-military conflict in central Mozambique.
The amount will fund projects aimed at “improving the livelihoods of the most affected rural communities in six districts,” said Hubert Neuwirth, head of ADA, during the signing ceremony in the city of Beira, capital of the central province of Sofala.
The initiative includes the Sofala Provincial Executive Council (CEPS) and the European Union (EU), whose confidence in the Austrian cooperation he thanked.
The activities will take place until the end of 2024 in the province of Sofala.
Peace was established in an agreement signed in 2019, and the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process of some 5,000 former guerrillas is currently underway.
“At the end of the programme in December 2024, I am confident that the programme activities will have contributed to improved livelihoods, greater food security and peace in the communities,” Hubert Neuwirth stressed.
According to the source, the programme will have a special focus on women so that “they are not only beneficiaries but also have a more prominent role in district planning and decision-making processes”.
The governor of Sofala, Lourenço Bulha, mentioned that in the first year, the CEPS would implement fast actions for the distribution of seeds and agricultural products, construction of greenhouses, small irrigation systems, tanks and solar-powered water supply systems, as well as education on better sanitation and nutrition practices.
“The Sofala government will also facilitate community dialogue at the district level to identify and finance investments that can help communities be more resilient to climate change and promote the economic inclusion of women and the most vulnerable,” governor Bulha concluded.
