The Swedish programme centres on three focus areas: Democratic governance and human rights, sustainable economic growth and social and human development.Special emphasis is given to the province of Niassa in northern Mozambique where long-term multi-sectoral support is provided.
The areas receiving Swedish assistance are briefly presented below. Figures in brackets refer to disbursements during 2007. The planned disbursements for 2008 amount to SEK 750 m.
Direct Budget Support for Poverty Reduction [SEK 300 m]Sweden supports the implementation of Mozambique's Poverty Reduction Plans (PARPA 1, 2001–2005 and PARPA 2, 2006-2010) directly through the state budget, in close coordination with 18 other multilateral and bilateral donors. Mozambique reserves two thirds of its state budget for areas agreed to be relevant for reducing poverty, of which half goes to education and health (including HIV and AIDS), and the rest to rural infrastructure, agriculture, social action, good governance, justice reform, community policing and other relevant areas. The policy dialogue for this support is concentrated on reforms concerning poverty reduction, improved governance, and state financial management. Of Sweden's budget support, SEK 50m is indicated to be linked to the education sector.
Education [through direct budget support plus SEK 5 m for bursaries]Extensive measures were needed to reconstruct a functioning educational system after the war. Sweden follows up the implementation of the government's education sector plan (ESSP). The main focus of the ESSP is primary education, although adult, technical and secondary education is receiving increasing attention. Most of Sweden's assistance is channelled as direct budget support through the Treasury. Separate support of SEK 5m is also provided directly to the Ministry of Education for scholarships for disadvantaged students from the provinces, to enable them to attend university.
Research [SEK 32 m]Since 1978 Sida/Sarec has supported research activities of the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) in Maputo. The support is directed both to the central administration and to research cooperation with different faculties of the UEM. Support is also being provided to the Ministry of Science and Technology to apply research results in practice.
Roads [SEK 70 m]The support to the road sector is primarily directed at roads and bridges, especially in Niassa province. A major investment is the rehabilitation of the transversal main road N14 in Niassa, linking Lichinga with the Cabo Delgado border, from where the African Development Bank is financing the missing link to tar the road all the way to Pemba Port on the coast. Another is Sweden's 30 % cost share of the major bridge now being built across the Zambezi River. Sweden has also financed a ferry connection across the Zambezi River, to ensure transit and building operations until the bridge is finished in 2009.
A significant portion of the support goes into a co-financing programme with DFID for the Decentralised Management of Regional Roads, thus contributing for employment opportunities to target beneficiaries through Budget Support for Rehabilitation of Regional Roads.
Energy [SEK 33 m] Sweden’s focus in the energy sector is on supporting the expansion of rural electrification and is currently financing rural electrification projects in the provinces of Niassa, Sofala, Manica and Tete. Part of the projects are co-financed by Norway and by Denmark.
Sweden also supports technical assistance to the National Electricity Utility (EDM) with the aim at rendering a more efficient utility.
Democratic governance and Human Rights [SEK 119 m (of which civil society receives 66 m)]Democratic governance y and human rights are supported through both state and civil society channels. Support to the state is increasingly channelled over the state budget and Sweden has a specific focus on Public Financial Management, in order to improve, efficiency, transparency and accountability of the public sector. Specific programme support includes support to the Supreme Audit Institution (Tribunal Administrativo) and the General Inspectorate of Finance. As a counterbalance to the support to the state Sweden has a considerable support for engaging civil society in the promotion of democracy and the defence of human rights. Support is provided for the areas of human rights, especially women's and children's rights, promotion of democracy, media development, and civic education. The programme is mainly implemented by civil society, NGOs and the media.
Agriculture [SEK 43 m]The large majority of the poor are dependent on agriculture for its survival. Sweden supports the sector programme Proagri at the Ministry of Agriculture in order to increase and improve its services to rural areas. The programme includes, amongst others, capacity building, agricultural research, extension services and the development of a system for community property registration.
Culture [SEK 8 m]With the collaboration of UNESCO, the aim is to develop the capacity of the Ministry of Culture and its ability to support cultural activities as well as to disseminate knowledge about the cultural heritage of Mozambique. Support is directed towards the management of museums, the operation of cultural centres and to cooperation between cultural groups in Sweden and Mozambique.
Support for the Province of Niassa [SEK 14 m]The development programme for the province of Niassa was started in 1998. The provincial programme includes long-term support to improving the service delivery of the provincial public administration and university scholarships. A support programme for civil society as well as support for private sector development. A substantial part of the general support to roads and energy is also directed to this remote province.
Private Sector Development [SEK 15 m]Private sector development is essential for poverty reduction since it contributes to growth and creates employment and income. The bulk of the support goes to private sector development in Niassa, including investment facilitation, micro-credit and agricultural marketing (www.malonda.co.mz). Support is also given to the Mozambican Confederation of Enterprises (CTA) for capacity building and for consultative mechanisms between Private Sector and Government of Mozambique. .HIV and AIDS [SEK 43 m]The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a severe threat to sustainable development in Mozambique. The HIV infection rate is 16%, making Mozambique one of the ten countries worst affected by the pandemic. HIV and AIDS related activities are integrated in projects and programmes supported by Sweden in all sectors. Furthermore, specific funding is given to the National Aids Council and to programmes run by UN agencies and NGOs in the areas of prevention, care and support.Swedish non-governmental organisations [SEK 12 m]Apart from their direct operation within the Swedish aid programme, several Swedish NGOs are active using their own funding in Mozambique, working together with local partners. These include eg. the Africa Groups of Sweden, The Swedish Cooperative Society, Diakonia and the Church of Sweden.
Regional programmes supported from the Embassy
Swedish support to water resources management in southern Africa is coordinated from the Embassy. At present, ten regional programs are supported within the framework of the "Swedish Initiative for Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Southern Africa". The assistance is seen in a conflict prevention perspective and focus is given to transboundary water resources management and capacity development in integrated water resources management. The Regional Water Initiative supports and facilitates the joint management and development of the Okavango, Pungwe and Zambezi river basins. Thematic support and capacity building is open to all SADC member states, and is also provided within the framework of the support to each river basin.