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Background
- USAID assistance to Mozambique began during the decade following independence with sporadic humanitarian responses to natural disasters. In 1984, USAID initiated significant emergency food assistance and a policy reform-based commodity import program; and in 1986 began activities to improve Mozambican transport infrastructure of regional importance.
- Beginning in 1989, within the context of broad Government of the Republic of Mozambique reforms, the USAID program grew to include new policy reform activities focused on liberalizing and privatizing agricultural production and food markets. USAID also implemented projects that provided training and technical assistance to advance economic and political reforms as well as improvements in maternal and child health.
- In response to the 1991-92 southern Africa droughts, USAID's substantial food and other assistance saved lives and mitigated suffering in Mozambique.
- When the 1992 Mozambique Peace Agreement ended 16 years of civil war, USAID began a war-to-peace transition program which continued to respond to emergency needs resulting from war and drought but also supported the peace process and the reintegration of Mozambicans into productive social and economic activities. This program included support for demobilization, demining, elections, rehabilitation of roads and bridges, and the provision of seeds, tools, and health services to millions of Mozambicans displaced or affected by war and drought.
The Country Strategic Plan, FY 1996 - 2003
Implementation of the first long-term Country Strategic Plan began in 1996. USAID designed the strategy to ensure broad participation by Mozambicans in political and economic life with enhanced food security and improved health for women and children as key areas of emphasis. The original program (FY 1996-2001) included three strategic objectives:
- Rural household income increased in the target areas;
- Government is more accountable to citizens; and
- Use of essential maternal/child health and family planning services increased in focus areas.
In 1998 the Mission introduced a special objective to achieve two main results: (1) an increase in the role of the private sector in the development of economic policy, legislation, and regulations; and (2) improved policies and facilities to encourage trade and investment.
In response to increasing levels of HIV/AIDS prevalence, USAID expanded HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs along the Maputo Corridor.
The expanded program included:
- Technical assistance and financing provided to a Mozambican national NGO to implement a broad range of HIV/AIDS prevention and care activities along the Maputo Corridor; and
- Technical assistance and training for the National AIDS Council to ensure that technical and financial resources are available to manage its role of coordinating national efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.
Post-Flood Recovery
Following Mozambique's severe flooding and cyclones in March 2000, the U.S. Congress provided $137 million in emergency funding to speed Mozambique’s recovery. USAID channeled these funds into projects to rebuild damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges and the Limpopo rail corridor, to provide emergency recovery grants to 106,000 families, and to finance loans to agricultural and commercial enterprises in the affected area. In addition, USAID helped Mozambique improve its disaster preparedness and response capabilities in order to reduce the degree of severity of future natural disasters.
The Country Strategic Plan 2004-2010 (approved May 2002)
A three-day seminar held in October 2001 launched the new strategy development process for USAID Mozambique. A number of private and public sector leaders, including six government ministers, joined nearly 200 seminar participants in discussing the priorities, opportunities, and strategic trade-offs USAID must consider as we determined how best to advance Mozambique’s development agenda for the next seven years. Following additional internal deliberations and consultations with our development partners and beneficiaries, as well as extensive analysis of each sector and option, we agreed on the five strategic objectives detailed on the Country Strategic Plan page.
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