The Mozambican Ministry of Finance recently convened a high-level Independent Evaluation Mission in Maputo to scrutinise the country’s portfolio of projects co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Spanning the period from 2017 to 2025, this comprehensive review covers a budget of US$522 million directed towards vital initiatives across the southern, central, and northern regions of the nation. The mission, led by IFAD’s Independent Office of Evaluation and featuring its Director, Dr Indran Naidoo, represents a critical juncture for Mozambique as it seeks to measure the efficacy of investments in agriculture, fisheries, and rural infrastructure.
During the opening session, Ruth Cangela, the Deputy National Director for Public Debt Management, characterised the evaluation as a strategic exercise that will dictate the future of the nation’s partnership with IFAD. The findings are expected to serve as a blueprint for the next Country Strategic Opportunities Programme, ensuring that future interventions are finely tuned to improve the livelihoods of rural and coastal populations. This collaborative effort involves a broad spectrum of state actors, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries and the Bank of Mozambique, all focused on the sustainable transformation of the rural economy and enhancing climate resilience.
The evaluation process allows for a candid reflection on the lessons learned and the operational challenges encountered during the implementation of diverse programmes, such as those managed by the Agricultural Development and Rural Extension Fund. By aligning these international investments with national priorities, Mozambique aims to solidify its institutional systems and ensure that development capital translates into tangible gains for small-scale producers. As Africa increasingly looks toward innovation and structured growth, the rigorous assessment of such large-scale portfolios is essential for maintaining the integrity of development finance and ensuring long-term food security.
Reflecting on the broader necessity for African nations to refine their economic strategies and prepare for a modernised global market, Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, noted: “The jobs of the future are being designed today, in how Africa educates its children, regulates its data, finances its innovators and plans its infrastructure. If African countries act with urgency and purpose, they can shape a labour market that is more productive, more inclusive and more resilient than the one they inherited.”
