The Irish Government has confirmed an investment of 3.5 million euros in the Mozambican education system, according to Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, during his recent visit to Mozambique.
Micheál Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, highlighted his country's pride in establishing this collaboration with Mozambique, reinforcing the aim of improving the quality of and access to education for Mozambican children. He stressed, in particular, the importance of education and female empowerment as crucial vectors for social mobility and for reducing poverty and inequality.
The investment will be made through the Education Sector Support Fund (FASE) in Mozambique. This fund receives contributions from ten donors, including the Global Partnership for Education and the World Bank, and aims to support the effective implementation of the country's Education Strategic Plan (PEE) 2020-2029.
Micheál Martin stressed the importance of education for Mozambique's socio-economic development, just as in Ireland, where investment in education was a decisive lever for the country's current economic prosperity. During the visit, the Irish Deputy Prime Minister visited the "01 de Junho" primary school in Inhambane province.
Ireland has a track record of funding development projects in Mozambique, focused, for example, on access to water. Currently, the amount of aid stands at 27 million euros a year. In recent years (2020-2022), Ireland contributed 13.5 million euros to education in Mozambique, through FASE, according to official data.
The Irish Government also supports, in Mozambique, United Nations agencies and civil society in emergency projects in the north of the country and in education initiatives aimed at improving the quality of teaching and preventing gender-based violence in selected schools.
In addition, Ireland contributes to the training of Mozambican students at Irish universities, through the "Ireland Fellows Programme".
During his stay, Micheál Martin was received in Maputo by the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi. The two discussed the peace situation in Mozambique, which has Ireland's support. They also addressed the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, agreeing that dialogue is the key to resolving the problem. President Filipe Nyusi expressed the wish to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries ever further.
