By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES)—The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved US$17 million in funding to support recovery and socio-economic development in northern Mozambique. The project focuses on Cabo Delgado province, which has been affected by armed insurgency since 2017. It aims to create 24,000 jobs and benefit over 100,000 people, with priority given to youth and women.
According to a statement from the Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN), the support will be channelled through the Resilient Investment Project for Socioeconomic Empowerment, Peace and Security (RISE-PS), to be implemented between September 2025 and August 2029. The initiative will be led by the Mozambican government, with technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project includes rehabilitating 150 community infrastructures, such as schools, youth centres, health posts, markets, and water supply systems. It also foresees immediate employment for 4,500 young people and women in public works and vocational training for 9,200 individuals. Around 2,000 women and young entrepreneurs will receive grants to relaunch small businesses destroyed by the conflict.
The AfDB funding also includes the construction of a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Centre at the Afungi Industrial Park, with the capacity to host up to 100 companies in modern and sustainable facilities. The Mozambican company MozParks will be responsible for construction. The project will also include the participation of private companies such as TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, which will offer internships to 1,055 young people, 70% of whom are expected to transition into permanent employment.
The total investment in the RISE-PS project amounts to US$28 million, of which US$17 million comes from the AfDB. The remaining funds will be provided by UNDP (US$4.2 million), the German government (US$2.4 million), private partners (US$3.1 million), and the Mozambican government (US$1.3 million). (NM)
