• Reference: P-MZ-IE0-003
• Appraisal Date: 03/02/2011
• Board Presentation: 03/02/2012
• Status: PipelinePIPE
• Implementing Agency: MINISTRY OF WOMEN & SOCIAL ACTION
• Location: MOST DISADVANTAGED DISTRICTS

The program will consist of the following interdependent components:

(i) capacity building and institutional strengtening;

(ii) socoeconomic rehabilitation.

The main objective of the proposed Program is to strengten local economic development for effective participation in poverty reduction.

In order to attain the main goal of the Mozambique poverty reduction strategy as envisaged in the PARPA, it would be critical to mainstream poverty in the overall development policy of the country and deepen its outreach to local communities in rural areas where most of the poor are found. As described in section 2.4, the Government strategy and policy for poverty reduction is geared towards making development closer to the people and improving the standard of living of the poorest communities at the lowest administrative level 'Posto Admistrativo or the Village.' Due to their remoteness from the central and provincial administration coupled with poor infrastructure, many of these communities are not reached or are unable and are poorly equipped to benefit from on-going interventions due to lack of knowledge and skills. Therefore, the main challenge is to enhance the linkage of these communities to on-going development initiatives, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills while scaling up and replicate sustainable successful community poverty reduction initiatives.

Moreover, considering the new policy initiatives in decentralization, education, health, ICT described earlier, a consolidated bottom-up integrated program approach is adopted in which all the key partners can contribute and facilitate local development endeavors instead of a proliferation of poorly coordinated projects with separate management systems that the Government nor the communities may not be able to manage or control. This is particularly viewed critical in light of the weak institutions at all levels in the country as explained earlier. Such an approach provides an opportunity to exploit the synergies between the different actors and sub-sectors, and enhance the participation of stakeholders. The proposed program approach also adheres to the Bank Group's vision and ADF VIII lending policy guidelines relating to poverty.

The proposed program will support the consolidation and deepening the devolution of decision making process to local communities to enable them play an effective role in the development planning process. Moreover, it will establish appropriate linkages with on-going decentralization program by creating the enabling environment for social integration. The target communities to be determined during the implementation of the PPF will be include the poorest rural communities of Mozambique and the Program will therefore contribute substantially to the Government's overall effort towards poverty reduction.

Due to the country's weak human resources base, an important benefit of the Program will be through capacity building especially in the case of communities and public servants as well as NGOs and CBOs. The Program will strengthen the capacity of the poor to articulate their development needs and thereby strengthen their participation in determining their own livelihoods. They will thus be able to prepare their own action plans, identify and select projects and participate in their implementation. It will also sensitise public servants on poverty issues and in particular in mainstreaming poverty in the planning and budgeting process thereby putting poverty issues at the core of government policy making and planning. All these activities will enhance the partnership approach to development and poverty eradication activities.

CUNHA Joao Duarte - OSHD1

Amount
UAC 8,800,000