Minister Hussen announces $65.8m for projects in Mozambique

Ottawa – Canada remains a steadfast and strategic partner in advancing shared priorities with southern African countries. Last week, Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, concluded his visit to the region with high-level engagements in Madagascar and Mozambique. In Mozambique, he announced $65.8 million in funding for international development projects to support country-led strategies and solutions.

Minister Hussen began his trip in Madagascar, where he met with participants in Generation Unlimited, a UNICEF initiative supported by Canada aimed at building green skills for youth employment while creating mentorship and internships.

The Minister visited Malagasy program partners of Trade Facilitation Office Canada and participated in a meaningful session with women leaders representing small and medium-sized enterprises during which he highlighted the impactful roles women play in driving economic development and fostering entrepreneurship in the region.

He also met with government leaders, including Prime Minister Christian Ntsay; Rafaravavitafika Rasata, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Max Fontaine, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development; Herindrainy Olivier Rakotomalala, Minister of Mines; Manambahoaka Valéry Fitzgerald Ramonjavelo, Minister of Transport and Meteorology; Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy, Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training, and representatives of organizations and partners, including Issa Sanogo, UN Resident Coordinator; Atou Seck, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Madagascar; Claire A. Pierangelo, the  Ambassador to Madagascar and the Comoros; and Isabelle Delattre Burger, the EU’s Ambassador and Head of the Delegation to Madagascar and the Comoros.

These discussions covered a range of topics, including development cooperation, climate actions, the International Organization of La Francophonie, trade, youth employment and mining cooperation.

The Minister concluded his trip in Mozambique, where he met with Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss areas of Canada-Mozambique collaboration, including Canada’s support of Mozambique’s national peace process and the implementation of the Maputo Accord for Peace and National Reconciliation. He also met with Armindo Tiago, Minister of Health; Manuel José Gonçalves, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Carla Louveira, Vice Minister of Economy and Finance; Edson Macuacua, Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education; Manuel Bazo, Vice Minister of Education and Human Development; and Paulo Beirão, the Ministry of Gender and Social Action’s Permanent Secretary. Minister Hussen also met with Solomon Quaynor, the African Development Bank’s Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, and César Abogo, the bank’s Country Director, discussing the bank’s priorities in the region and economic development partnerships. Finally, the Minister met with Catherine Sozi, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, to discuss the complex crisis in northern Mozambique, the impacts of climate change and opportunities for collective action on gender-based violence.

In recognition of how Canadian investment in Mozambique addresses local needs and supports the African Union agenda, including the African Union’s 2024 Year of Education, the Minister visited the Chibututuine Teacher Training Institute and a nearby model primary school to observe the positive impact of quality teacher training on basic education. The project is implemented by CODE, a Canadian NGO, in partnership with the Associação Progresso [progress association], a Mozambican NGO.

During the visit, Minister Hussen engaged with Graça Machel, an influential African elder, activist and former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa. They discussed the importance of Mozambican civil society organizations’ leadership in tackling gender-based violence, advancing education and vocational training and ending child marriage.

At the conclusion of his visit, the Minister delivered remarks reaffirming Canada’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment at the Invest in Women conference, an event recognizing Mozambique’s Women’s Month. The event was held in collaboration with the Foundation for Community Development, a Mozambican NGO founded by Ms. Machel.

While visiting Mozambique, the Minister announced $65.8 million in new development funding assistance for 6 projects in Mozambique. The funding will support projects, described below, in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights, mental health and education for women and girls.

• The University of Saskatchewan will receive $20 million in funding for the project Sexual and Reproductive Health for Young Women in Inhambane. This project aims to improve sexual, reproductive and maternal health and rights for adolescent girls and women in the province of Inhambane.
• The World Health Organization will receive $7 million in funding for the project Improving Data for Better Health Systems. This initiative will focus on improving the quality of routine data to contribute to and facilitate decision making focusing on sexual, reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health.
• The United Nations Development Programme will receive $12.5 million through Action for Girls and Young Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, an initiative involving UNESCO, UNICEF, the UN Population Fund and UN Women. This project aims to shift attitudes that negatively affect young women and to remove barriers that prevent young women from accessing the sexual and reproductive health rights services they want and need.
• The University of Washington will receive $5 million in funding for the project Empower Mental Health. This initiative focuses on strengthening existing health care and community-based systems of mental health care to address the mental health needs of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the provinces of Manica and Sofala.
• Pathfinder International will receive $20 million in funding for Impacto II: Supporting Family Planning Services in Mozambique, a project that aims to improve gender equality in the Tete and Manica provinces by supporting adolescent girls and young women exercising their rights to autonomy and self-determination over their own bodies, as well as to accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
• Voluntary Service Overseas will receive $1.325 million in funding for Empowering Adolescent Girls to Learn and Earn. This project aims to expand the basic literacy, numeracy and skills development of 3,000 vulnerable and out-of-school adolescent girls.