Mid-Term Review of the AGIR Programme - Sida

A N N E X 3 – I N C E P T I O N R E P O R T
An additional source of evidence will obtained through interviewing individuals or
organisations that are not connected to the AGIR programme, but that work in, or
have knowledge of, the context of AGIR within Mozambique.
In terms of time schedule, the original work plan for the mid-term review is still considered
realistic.
Assessment of Scope of the Mid-Term Review
Background
Mozambique is located in the Southern Africa Region, with a population of about 22
million people who are unevenly distributed across an area of approximately 799.380
square kilometers. While recent discoveries of gas and other natural resources, as well
as the beginning of the exploitation of mineral coal, have increased the interest of
international investors in the country, it has also raised the concern of civil society
activists and local communities about environmental, land and natural resource rights.
With an average GDP growth rate of 6.7% in the last 5 years, 34 Mozambique is
among the fastest-growing economies in the region and is considered the third most
attractive African country for direct foreign investment. 35 However, even with these
areas of economic promise and, despite the continuous implementation of poverty
reduction strategies over the last two decades, poverty remains the reality for many
Mozambicans. From 1997 to 2003 the country experienced a steady reduction in the
poverty rate from 69% to 54.1%. From 2003 to 2009 however, the poverty rate actually
increased to 54.7%. 36 This is despite the growing allocation of budget resources
to poverty reduction priority areas (health, education, agriculture, infrastructures, employment,
social assistance, and good governance) – an increase from an average of
63% between 2007 to 2008 to more than 80% between 2009 and 2011. 37 The current
Poverty Reduction Action Plan (PARP) 2011-2014 aims to reduce the poverty rate to
42% in 2014. 38
34
See data of Ministry of Finance at
http://www.mf.gov.mz/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=11402&folderId=34858&name=DLFE-
3908.pdf
35
See http://www.mozahub.com/en/mozambique-news/1482-mozambique-is-3rd-most-attractivecountry-in-africa-for-foreign-investment
36
Republic of Mozambique Poverty Reduction Action Plan (PARP) 2011-2014. Approved at the 15th
Regular Session of the Council of Ministers, Maputo, May 3 2011. Page 6.
37
Ministério das Finanças (2009). Relatório de Execução do Orçamento de Estado de 2008. Maputo,
Ministry of Finance; Ministério das Finanças (2011). Conta Geral do Estado de 2010. Maputo,
Ministério das Finanças, page 47; Ministério das Finanças (2012). Relatório de Execução do
Orçamento do Estado de 2011 Janeiro-Dezembro. Maputo, Ministry of Finance. page 24.
38
Republic of Mozambique Poverty Reduction Action Plan (PARP) 2011-2014. Approved at the 15th
Regular Session of the Council of Ministers, Maputo, May 3 2011.
87