Mozambique: Matola Municipality launches 7.5 million meticais fund for women projects

According to Matola mayor, Júlio Parruque, speaking at the ceremony launch of the “Xitique da Mulher Matolense”, the initiative seeks to support income-generating projects, stimulate female entrepreneurship, and create employment and self-employment opportunities, as well as strengthening financial inclusion for women residing in Matola. “This is a municipal fund to finance women’s projects with an annual budget of 7.5 million meticais, enabling them to create and expand their businesses through a municipal financing scheme”, he said. Parruque added that the fund aims to boost entrepreneurship, increase employment and self-employment opportunities, foster a culture of management and savings, and strengthen women’s participation in poverty-reduction programs, both within the family and in the community.

“The initiative aligns with the commitments made by the Matola Municipality regarding gender equality, financial inclusion, and local economic development, while also supporting national development goals”, he said. The mayor believes that this project will unite, mobilize, and inspire other local governments to implement initiatives that generate employment and self-employment. For her part, Lizete Mabjaia, Municipal Councilor, explained that the fund will cover women aged between 25 and 75, committed to repaying the funding received.

According to Mabjaia, the projects may benefit from funding ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 meticais, prioritizing initiatives developed in collaboration with other women based on principles of cooperation, solidarity, and the strengthening of women’s entrepreneurship. “This is a new instrument for financial inclusion and local development, designed to strengthen women’s economic autonomy and expand their participation in the municipality’s social and economic transformation”, she said.