Mozambique
HI is working in Mozambique to improve the living conditions of people severely affected by conflict and access to education and employment for people with disabilities.
Benfica Nova Primary School is an inclusive school. HI accompanies the teachers through specialized training. | © S. Roche / HI
Actions in process
In Mozambique, with a focus on the Cabo Delgado area, which is particularly affected by armed conflict, HI helps to promote access to quality education for children with disabilities by conducting campaigns to raise awareness, encouraging parents to enrol their disabled children in school and identifying children deprived of access to education. HI’s teams assess the training needs of teachers, deliver complementary training in inclusive education, mental health and psychosocial support and promote teaching methods adapted to the context and the trauma it causes. The programme also provides children with rehabilitation support, including mobility aids such as wheelchairs, to facilitate their access to education.
In the north of the country, HI also works with populations that have been displaced or severely affected by conflict, promoting better access to rehabilitation care, mental health services and psychosocial support, particularly for people with disabilities. Our teams work with local health centres and train health care professionals in how to include people with disabilities. They run training in psychological first aid to help meet the needs of the many victims of conflict forced to leave their homes to escape the violence. They also organise awareness-raising sessions in the communities and are developing a network of community health relays capable of advising and supporting the population.
Furthermore, our teams work to identify people with disabilities and provide them with personalised assistance, such as mobility aids like wheelchairs or walking sticks, and are helping to create a community-run rehabilitation centre and orthotic workshop. They also organise education sessions on the risks of explosive devices for people displaced by conflict.
Finally, HI Mozambique promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities and young people in the world of work, particularly in the new communication technologies sector. Our teams are working with civil society and the business world to develop accessible training and promote partnerships between the private and public sectors, thereby boosting employment among young people, women and people with disabilities.
Areas of intervention
concretely
Situation of the country
Since the 1992 peace agreements that ended 25 years of civil war, Mozambique has pursued extensive political, economic and administrative reforms.
The climate is tropical to subtropical, with high temperatures on the coast for much of the year. Its geographical position makes it vulnerable to cyclones that sweep across the land causing massive destruction to homes, fields and other vital infrastructure. This occurred in March 2019 with the terrible cyclone Idai and again in March 2023 with tropical storm Freddy, which affected more than 1.1 million people.
Mozambique is now emerging from the public debt crisis of 2016, caused by the World Bank's discovery of hidden debts. At the time, most donors temporarily suspended their aid and the currency plummeted. However, for several years now, Mozambique has been one of the fastest-growing countries in Africa, with growth strongly supported by the international community and private investment. However, the biggest obstacle to stable growth remains the worrying health situation and the very low level of education, which have led to major inequalities. As a result, a high percentage of the Mozambican population remains below the poverty line.
Relations between the main parties to the civil war have improved since 2019. The peace process is ongoing and concessions are being made to increase the level of independence of provinces and municipalities. However, active armed groups not party to the peace process continue to pose a threat to the civilian population.
Number of HI staff: 60
Programmed opened in: 1986
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