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Mozambique

HI’s programme in Mozambique is working to improve access to and the quality of education for children with disabilities, and to improve the living conditions of populations severely affected by conflict or disaster.

Benfica Nova Primary School is an inclusive school. HI accompanies the teachers through specialized training.

Actions in process

In Mozambique, HI promotes access to quality education for children with disabilities by conducting awareness and school enrolment campaigns and identifying children who are out of school. Our teams assess the training needs of teachers and deliver additional modules on inclusive education. They work directly with schools to make them inclusive and to demonstrate the positive impact of a system that includes and encourages children with disabilities. They also repair and renovate schools destroyed by disasters.

HI also works with populations displaced or severely affected by conflict. The programme promotes better access to rehabilitation care, mental health services and psychosocial support, particularly for people with disabilities. Our teams work with local health centres and trains health care professionals in how to include people with disabilities. They also offer training in psychological first aid to better meet the needs of the many victims of conflict who have fled their homes to escape the violence, leaving everything behind. HI’s teams also organise awareness-raising sessions in the communities and is developing a network of community health agents capable of advising and supporting local people. And they work with civil society organisations to identify people with disabilities and provide them with appropriate mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or walking sticks.

HI’s programme runs projects to support populations affected by disasters, such as cyclones. It ensures that the needs of people with disabilities are taken into account in the responses provided to populations, notably in the fields of health and education. It also supports displaced populations by promoting their economic reintegration. Our teams work with participants to identify a project and then provide training to help them acquire new skills and establish sustainable income-generating activities.

Finally, HI promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society by supporting organisations of people with disabilities and civil society actors. The programme helps them to identify levers of change and supports their advocacy actions in favour of the inclusion of disability issues in national strategies and the life of citizens.

 

Situation of the country

Since the 1992 peace agreements that put an end to 25 years of civil war, Mozambique has pursued extensive political, economic and administrative reforms.

Mozambique's economic growth is strongly supported by the international community and private investment in a favourable political climate. However, the biggest obstacle to stable growth in the country is the ongoing prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the worrying health situation and a very low level of education leading to major inequalities.

Mozambique is now emerging from the public debt crisis of 2016, caused by the World Bank's discovery of hidden debts. At the time, most donors temporarily suspended their aid and the currency plummeted. However, for several years now, Mozambique has had one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, although a high percentage of the Mozambican population is still living below the poverty line.

The climate is tropical to subtropical climate, with high temperatures on the coast for much of the year. Its geographical position makes it vulnerable to cyclones, which can sweep across the land causing destruction to homes, fields and other vital infrastructure.  This was the case in March 2019 with the terrible cyclone Idai, and again in March 2023 with tropical storm Freddy, which affected more than 1.1 million people.

Relations between the main parties to the civil war have improved since 2019. The peace process is ongoing and concessions are being made to increase the level of independence of provinces and municipalities. However, active armed groups not party to the peace process continue to pose a threat to the civilian population.

Number of HI staff: 70

Programmed opened in: 1986

 
Map of Humanity & Inclusion's interventions in Mozambique

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© S. Roche / HI