LocationsNational Gender Meeting: Mozambique Advances Social Justice through Inclusive Planning and Finance
May 15, 2025
Maputo, April 9–11, 2025 – Mozambique’s capital hosted the National Meeting on Gender, Strategic Planning, SDG Localization, and Decentralized Public Finance. The event brought together government officials, development partners, civil society, academia, and representatives from all Mozambican provinces for a unique moment of dialogue and joint strategy-building toward more equitable and effective governance.
Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministries of Finance; State Administration and Civil Service; and Labour, Gender and Social Action, and within the framework of the projects “Decentralization for Development (D4D),” “Initiatives to Promote Provincial Decentralization in Niassa and Nampula (I4D),” and “SDG Localization (SDGLOC),” the meeting was supported by the European Union, Swiss Cooperation, and the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation. The focus was on integrating gender perspectives at all levels of public planning and budgeting, and on discussing the transformative role of gender in public policies and national planning processes.
From left to right: Mr. Cristino Pedraza-UNDP Decentralization Program CTA; Eng. Cristina Matusse-Deputy National Director of Planning and Budget at the Ministry of Finance; Dr. Helga Mondlane-National Director at MAEFP.
“Inclusion is at the heart of our work as a development agency.” – Cleophas Torori, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Mozambique
Mr. Cleophas Torori, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, praised the leadership of the Mozambican Government in implementing decentralized reforms with a gender focus. He stressed that SDG 5 must be at the core of the development agenda and expressed appreciation to all involved partners. Torori emphasized that “inclusion is at the heart of our work as a development organization” and called for strengthening institutional capacities to ensure no one is left behind.
“The provinces are demonstrating local leadership by solving problems with contextualized solutions. This meeting is an opportunity to align guidelines, strengthen capacities, and consolidate a common national vision,” he stated.
Mr. Cleophas Torori, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.
“Public Administration must lead by example in promoting equality.” – Virgulino Nhate, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of State Administration and Civil Service (MAEFP)
Virgulino Nhate, Permanent Secretary of MAEFP, highlighted that the Government has been adopting clear policies and strategies to promote gender equality. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to making Public Administration a model of good practice. He referred to the implementation of the Gender Strategy in Public Administration and underlined the importance of laws such as those on Domestic Violence and Family, as well as the ratification of international instruments like CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action.
“Our commitment is clear: we want a Public Administration that promotes equal opportunities and treatment between men and women, setting an example of good practices for society at large,” he declared.
– Virgulino Nhate, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of State Administration and Civil Service (MAEFP)
“Gender is Social Justice” – Alfredo Mutombene, Representative of the Ministry of Finance
Alfredo Mutombene, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that talking about gender “is not just about women, but about social justice, equity, and sustainable development.” He warned that plans and budgets based on assumed neutrality often reinforce inequalities in employment, education, and health, ultimately resulting in social injustices. He called for the inclusion of sex-, race-, and territory-disaggregated data in the formulation of public policies.
“Gender mainstreaming must be a structural pillar, not an afterthought. Every metical invested should take us one step closer to equality. Talking about gender is talking about social justice. It means recognizing that different groups face different realities, and that equity must be at the core of planning,” he stated.
Alfredo Mutombene, Alfredo Mutombene - Representative of the Ministry of Finance
Discussions, Outcomes, and Impact
The event served as a fertile space for experience-sharing and identifying common challenges. Key outcomes and benefits included:
- Technical Capacity Building: Participants deepened their understanding of methodologies for integrating gender into planning and budgeting, increasing coherence in sectoral policies.
- Validation of Studies and Strategies: Key documents such as the “Leave No One Behind” study were validated, and the Terms of Reference for financing Territorial Strategies were discussed.
- Strengthening Local Strategies: Provinces such as Niassa, Nampula, and Manica showcased community-impact projects that emphasized inclusion and the role of women in local leadership.
- Action Matrix: A matrix with concrete commitments was agreed upon to guide the monitoring and follow-up of future actions.
Participants from Sofala & Manica provinces discussing their strategic proposal
Commitment to the Future
This meeting marked not only a milestone in what has been achieved but, more importantly, a new starting point. It reinforced the understanding that mainstreaming gender in governance processes is not only an ethical imperative but a smart strategy for sustainable development. Participants left with a renewed commitment to turning policies into concrete actions, strengthening women’s roles, and promoting governance that is truly responsive to people’s real needs. The meeting also served as a platform to validate studies, discuss territorial strategies, and consolidate commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) – Gender Equality. Concrete experiences from the provinces of Niassa, Nampula, Cabo Delgado, Sofala, Manica, and Maputo were shared, highlighting progress in decentralization with a focus on more inclusive and gender-responsive policies.
The three-day event brought together a total of 90 participants, including representatives from all 11 provinces, civil society, academia, and other invited stakeholders.
"Group of women representing public institutions, Civil Society and Academia engaged in discussions on Gender-sensitive planning."