Mozambique: AfDB approves 17 million dollars for Cabo Delgado reconstruction – AIM report

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a grant of 17 million US dollars to support recovery efforts in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, which has been affected by islamist terrorism since 2017. According to an AfDB press release, the funding will support the “Resilient Investment for Socio-Economic Empowerment, Peace, and Security (RISE-PS) Project”, which is described as “a bold new initiative to tackle the root causes of fragility through targeted economic empowerment”. The project, the release says, “will directly create 24,000 jobs, with 60 per cent of opportunities earmarked for young people aged 18 to 35, and 50 per cent reserved for women.

Cumulatively, over 100,000 people are expected to benefit from the initiative”. Photo: ADIN – Agência de Desenvolvimento Integrado do Norte “We hope to be able to look at this project and affirm that, through this partnership between the government, ADIN, AfDB, and UNDP, we have managed to generate new economic opportunities, strengthen local entrepreneurship, and contribute to consolidating the foundations for peace, trust, and shared development”, he said. For his part, the Cabo Delgado Provincial Governor, Valige Tauabo, said that the initiative unequivocally contributes to addressing the great pressures faced by the population, particularly the young people as they face scarcity of economic opportunities.

“Young people need simplified access to financial resources to fund their businesses, technical and vocational training, and the possibility of linking businesses to the value chain of major ongoing projects in the province”, he said. “This is about more than economic recovery – it’s about giving young people a reason to believe in their future,” said Babatunde Omilola, Manager for Human Capital, Youth and Skill Development at the African Development Bank’s Regional Office for Southern Africa. “The project emphasizes youth as peacebuilding agents, unlocking their potential through skills development, entrepreneurship, and decent work opportunities to drive economic stabilization efforts.” READ:MozParks and UNDP Mozambique join forces for the economic development of Cabo Delgado province and youth employment A cornerstone of the RISE-PS project is the creation of a Peace and Security Investment Hub, coordinated by Mozambique’s Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN).