Mozambique: Government needs 42 million dollars to implement projects in Niassa - AIM
Photo: Social Media
The Northern Integrated Development Agency, an institution created with the aim of boosting the social and economic development of the provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Nampula, is now officially launched. The launching ceremony took place this Monday in the city of Pemba, capital of the province of Cabo Delgado.
But the pomp marking the announcement of the official start of the institution’s activities contrasts starkly with economic reality. Of the US$383.8 million projected budget for the initial phase, the Government has only been able to secure US$19 million, a shortfall of US$364.8 million, or 95%.
The secured amount (US$19 million) will be invested in promoting agricultural and fisheries production (US$12.6 million); health (US$3.4 million); and water supply and sanitation (US$3 million).
The remaining projects, namely, assistance with food and non-food goods; land use planning; construction of housing; roads; and energy have not yet found financial support. In fact, the three projects that have already been financed have also not yet managed to mobilise the total amount of funds planned. For example, projects to promote agricultural and fisheries production require approximately US$31.2 million, while health projects plan to consume, in the first phase, US$11.5 million and water and sanitation supply projects require almost US$5.5 million.
The projects foreseen in this initial phase are part of the Emergency Plan for Humanitarian Assistance to Populations Victim of Terrorist Attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado, prepared by the Council of State Representation Services in that part of the country. They aim at the reconstruction of the destroyed areas and the resumption of productive action by the communities affected by the terrorist attacks, through the resettlement of 70,000 families, the assignment of 100,000 hectares for the development of productive activities and the opening of 2,160 km of access roads.
World Bank will be the largest financial partner
According to figures presented on Monday by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), Celso Ismael Correia, ADIN needs about US$764 million to develop its activities, of which US$700 million will come from the World Bank (US$250 million per donation and US$450 million yet to be defined), corresponding to 91.6% of the total amount. The African Development Bank will donate US$60 million and the UK US$3.6 million.
Of the five sectors chosen by the government, only three have precise dates in relation to the start-up of projects, being two sectors for March 2021 (economy, extractive and gas industry, agri-business, agriculture, fisheries, environment and sustainable development), and one that has been ongoing since last August (agriculture, fisheries, forestry), which will consume US$3.6 million. The water, health, education, agriculture and public works sectors (including the Pemba-Lichinga Corridor) do not yet have exact dates beyond an anticipated 2021 start.
According to President Nyusi, ADIN, in its transversal mandate, will act in six vectors, namely, in the humanitarian assistance (mainly of the families affected by the terrorist attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado); economic development (in particular the creation of employment and training opportunities for young people); community resilience and human capital (coordinating and supporting community-driven development initiatives); in ongoing evaluation and analysis (carrying out analysis and research, in order to define strategies); in the communication strategy (developing a communication strategy based on local reality and language to promote the goals of ADIN); and encouraging the sharing of information between the main players.
In his launch speech, President Nyusi referred to the fact that the three provinces have high poverty rates in the country, with 2015 figures indicating 65% in Nampula, 67% in Niassa and 53% in Cabo Delgado, compared with the national average of 43%. However, “over the years, the northern zone has seen a significant volume of public and private investments, which were decisive for the social and economic evolution of the population,” he said, citing in particular gas exploration projects in the Rovuma basin, Cabo Delgado province.
The Northern Resilience and Integrated Development Strategy will be approved by the Council of Ministers in November and December of this year.
By Abílio Maoleia
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