NPA in Mozambique

During many years, the choices of NPA's program in Mozambique were largely determined by the situation of war and conflict. From 1984, NPA provided humanitarian support to the population in the drought-stricken areas in the Tete province. When the peace agreement was signed in 1992 and the refugees started returning to their land, NPA assisted in the resettlement and rehabilitation activities, but also development efforts that took place immediately after the peace agreement and the first, free elections in 1994. Skills training programs, support to women’s organizations, rehabilitation and construction of schools, support to district development (schools, health posts, tertiary roads, boreholes, dams) and mine action programs became the core of NPA's country program until 2000 when program started changing.  NPAs mine action program phased out in 2006 and the development program now focuses on strengthening the role of civil society and organizational development. NPA’s history in Mozambique

Democratic deficits and increasing inequalities
The absence of war and the combined national and international efforts since 1992 have brought Mozambique steadily towards development and economic growth, and people’s lives have improved. On the other hand, it remains as one of the poorest countries in the world and is heavily indebted. It is also disturbing that inequalities are increasing. The gap between those who have money, influence and power, and those who don’t is widening and is exacerbated by global challenges such as trade, capital, climatic changes and human trafficking.

Democratic elections, government decision-making, party politics and other social processes do not involve the majority of the population. Corruption has become entrenched at public institutions at all levels where civil servants are extorting payments in order to provide education, health or other scarce, basic and largely inadequate, services. Private enterprises and members of the ruling elite invest in tourism or exploit natural resources like land, forest and timber, while people whose livelihoods depend on the land and the forest loose out.  They don’t know that their interests are protected by laws or that they can hold their elected parliamentarians accountable. Hiv/aids is affecting and destroying people’s lives, reducing productivity and impacting negatively on social and economic development. Women continue to be oppressed and abused because they are women and the society is largely patriarchal.

Supporting partners working for change
The key to sustainable development is people’s control of resources and participation in decision making.  NPA’s current program in Mozambique relates to the above threats and is based on partnership with civil society organizations.  NPAs have chosen to work with organizations that represent people who work together to achieve change in the following key areas:

In 1997 Mozambique adopted a new land law that protects the interests of small-scale formers. The law secures woman’s rights to land and underlines that men and women have equal rights. It focuses on productive and sustainable land use, recognizes both traditional land tenure systems, and underlines participation of the local communities while also allowing private investments. However, there is a gap between the land law and its implementation. The majority of the population live in rural areas and practice customary laws and resources management. Many, in particular women are still illiterate, have low income and little access to information. They are easy prey to foreign investors who acquire and exploit land that according to customs belong to the communities. There are many conflicts originating from disputes on land and resources. Local communities tend to loose out because they don’t know that they can argue their case based on the provisions in the land law.

The majority of people in Mozambique live and are farmers in the rural areas, and most of the farmers are women. Their contribution to the household economy is not echoed in the communities where they are barred from influencing decisions except during national and local elections. Women’s role in Mozambique continues to be associated with family tasks, taking care of the children and the sick, including household and food production. While both men and women may be oppressed, women are exposed to discrimination because they are women, starting from girls’ lack of access to education, early marriages and women being denied their inheritance rights in cases of divorce, domestic violence and polygamy.  Family laws protecting women’s rights will improve the lives of rural and urban women, but are yet to be passed and to be implemented.

Partners bring people’s concerns to the attention of the law makers and work to influence national policies and laws. They disseminate information about laws to the communities, assist in conflict resolution, provide legal support when the communities have valid claims, encourage women and young people to engage in discussions and train them to be leaders.