Mozambique
OVERVIEW
Mozambique is a country in transition. Located in southern Africa, it borders six other countries and more than 2,500 km of Indian Ocean coastline. The country has evolved from long-term colonial and civil war to long-term peace and democracy. In 2004, Mozambique held its third presidential and parliamentary elections; in 2008, it held its third municipal elections. Mozambique's status as an essential link to global markets for landlocked neighboring countries and its potential for growth due to its economic ties to the industrial heartland of South Africa underscore the fact that the country's successful economic, political, and social transitions are vital to the interests of the region. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high, which has resulted in a low life expectancy and high infant mortality and death rates. USAID's programs in health, democracy, and economic growth address these constraints and contrasts.
PROGRAMS
GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY
Improvements in municipal governance offer the best opportunity to close the gap between Mozambican citizens, civil society, and their local and national governments. Decentralization is a priority of the Mozambican government, so USAID programs will strengthen the capacity of local government and civil society. USAID also supported a capacity building program that benefited members of the Attorney General's Central Office to Combat Corruption, as well as prosecutors and investigators from all 11 provinces who work in public corruption and money laundering.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: HEALTH
Despite having some of the worst health indicators in Africa, Mozambique is making significant progress in reducing mortality rates and improving access to primary health care services. USAID and the Ministry of Health are building the capacity of the public health system and ensure that quality basic health services are increasingly accessible to the rural poor. USAID has purchased and distributed 852,000 insecticide-treated bednets, and 87 percent of children are fully immunized by their first birthday. USAID has also rehabilitated over 200 health facilities and procured equipment to increase capacity at maternity wards.
Sixteen percent of Mozambicans have HIV/AIDS-the greatest threat to Mozambique's development. Of the 1.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 58 percent are women. USAID is providing the anti-retroviral drugs to two-thirds of all Mozambicans taking anti-retroviral treatments. In addition, USAID is supporting the Ministry of Health's efforts to ensure availability of anti-retroviral drugs, laboratory reagents, and HIV/AIDS rapid test kits. Technical assistance improves the logistical management of medicines and medical supplies. USAID-managed HIV/AIDS mass media and community-based messaging reaches over 7 million Mozambicans.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Although poverty rates had dropped to 54 percent in 2003, Mozambique is still among the world's poorest countries, ranking 172 out of 177 countries on the 2007-08 U.N. Human Development Index. USAID is assisting tens of thousands of vulnerable households in improving their food security through the adoption of more productive agriculture technologies, improved nutrition and health practices, and better linkages to agricultural markets. USAID is also supporting farmer associations and agribusinesses; sales of agricultural commodities increased from $12.5 million to $14.0 million during 2008.
Mozambique's economic growth has been strong and sustained, with the gross domestic product growing 8.5 percent in 2006 and 7.3 percent in 2007. USAID is helping the Government of Mozambique and the private sector to increase international market access for Mozambican products, enhance Mozambique's competitiveness by focusing on promoting labor-intensive exports, supporting high-impact value chains such as tourism, and improving the Mozambican business climate. USAID is designing tourism development zones and providing a framework for investments, and through a public private partnership, USAID is helping reestablish Gorongosa Park as an eco-tourism destination and establishing a reserve on Lake Niassa.
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