Friday, May 17, 2019 – Maputo – The U.S. and Mozambican governments signed today three development agreements totaling almost $110 million.  Mission Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Jennifer Adams represented the U.S. Government, while Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Pacheco represented the Government of the Republic of Mozambique.  These agreements provide $14 million in additional funding for USAID programs focused on accelerating resilient broad-based economic growth, $13.6 million to improve the quality of education, and $81.5 million to improve health systems and services. With these agreements, the U.S. Government will continue to build on its investments to help Mozambique achieve inclusive socioeconomic development for its people.  With the amendments, USAID's 2019 assistance investment in Mozambique now totals $288 million, supporting programs focused on malaria, maternal/child health, family planning, nutrition, tuberculosis, education, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and water and sanitation. Over the past year alone, USAID's current portfolio of programs provided more than 135,000 households with agriculture assistance, distributed 84,000 textbooks, and purchased 5.6 million malaria treatment kits.

During the signing ceremony, Dr. Adams said: “The signing of these agreements marks a joint U.S. - Mozambique commitment to ensuring equitable, sustainable development results for the Mozambican people.  We believe every person, every community, and every country wants to be empowered to lead their own future. We support the Mozambican development journey as an enduring partner.”

Dr. Adams also recognized the incredible resilience that Mozambicans have shown in the response to Cyclones Idai and Cyclone Kenneth, and reaffirmed the U.S. Government's continued commitment to recovery efforts.  As the world's largest donor of humanitarian assistance, the United States Government is investing significant resources to assist those affected by the cyclones that devastated central and northern Mozambique. As of May 1, USAID has provided over $67 million to support food, health care, nutrition, shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to people in cyclone-affected areas, working with the Mozambican National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) and a variety of international partners to provide food and other assistance to over a million people. The United States Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises. For more information about USAIDs work to foster sustainable development and advance human dignity visit www.usaid.gov.