Oxfam Country Strategy: summary

MOZAMBIQUE

Introduction
This strategy sets out Oxfam’s areas of focus for the period 2018 – 2023. In developing this
strategy we have done three things: first, we have looked forward to the opportunities and
challenges that we can see will be present in Mozambique over the next 25 years; second,
we have considered pathways to maximise these opportunities and address these
challenges; third, we have analysed how and where Oxfam can add most value, working
alongside our existing partners and allies, and capitalising on the opportunities afforded by
being part of Oxfam’s worldwide influencing network.

Our vision is of a secure and prosperous Mozambique, where the benefits of economic
growth are shared so the basic needs of all people are met; where the rights of women are
respected and women participate fully in public and private spheres; where all people,
especially the youth, can participate in decision making and influence the policies that
impact on their lives; and where public and private sector institutions are accountable and
transparent.

Our work will focus on benefiting women, youth and rural communities.

Achieving social change is a long-term project. We seek to build on the foundations of our
30 years in country, and we adopt a long-term perspective to play our part in achieving
sustainable change at scale in Mozambique. All our work will therefore focus on the drivers
of poverty in Mozambique: the governance structures, power structures, policy-making
systems and social norms that enable and disable women and men from being able to exit
poverty. We will not seek continued funding for pure service delivery work that does not
enable us to influence long-term change at scale, or for value chain work with limited
benefits beyond project participants.

We believe that long-term change at scale in Mozambique is founded upon citizens

becoming more engaged in political decision-making processes, and gaining the confidence
and tools to hold their government and private sector institutions to account. We will support
citizens to know their rights, claim their rights and make rights violations visible.

This document summarizes the main points of our strategy. For more details about our
future programme ambitions, please see the full Mozambique Oxfam Country Strategy.
The context
Mozambique is at a crossroads. On the one hand, there is no clear resolution in sight to the
latent conflict that has intermittently degenerated into full armed confrontation and politically,
challenges exist with elite capture of decision-making processes, extensive corruption and
much decision-making taking place through informal channels.

On the other hand, the country is on the cusp of an important economic transformation.
Discoveries and investment in the exploitation of extensive reserves of coal, gas, rubies and
other minerals discovered over the last decade provide the potential for huge revenue flows.
If conflict is averted and this opportunity is well managed and the proverbial “resource
curse” does not occur, this development has the potential to transform the lives of the
country’s citizens and change its income status in comparison with other countries.

Current development challenges are huge. Mozambique ranks in the bottom eight countries
in the 2016 World Human Development Index: 72% of the country’s inhabitants do not have
access to basic sanitation; 32% of children do not have access to education. It is also
among the most vulnerable and least prepared countries with regard to natural disasters,
including cyclones, floods and droughts.

Poverty is predominantly female and rural, with levels of access to basic services far lower
for women and rural populations. Rapid population growth means that young people are
making up an increasing percentage of the population.

Oxfam’s approaches
As an international NGO, we have specific capabilities and opportunities to achieve change
alongside other civil society organisations (CSOs), state institutions and private businesses.
Oxfam will therefore work to achieve change in Mozambique by using a variety of
approaches designed to improve lives in the short-term and also create long-term,
sustainable change. We will:

• Act as a facilitator and convener.

• Create space for learning, particularly through our international linkages and
experience from across Oxfam’s worldwide influencing network.
• Mobilise Oxfam’s global networks in support of change in Mozambique.
• Develop evidence gathering and implementation projects, designed in a manner that
generates learning and evidence to support change at scale.
• Advocate, influence and campaign for change alongside our CSO partners where
we judge that our presence will make it more likely that lobbying goals will be
achieved.
• Fund, support and develop our strategic CSO partners.
• Build on our experience and expertise in humanitarian responses, disaster risk
reduction (DRR), and work with extractive industries.

Using these approaches we will be able to mobilise funds which would otherwise not be
available to our local partners, and our efforts will augment their capacity, skills, influence
and expertise.
Our vision, impact goals and strategic outcomes
In order to achieve our vision we have set ourselves four impact goals, each of which aligns
with the priorities set out in the Oxfam International Strategic Plan. And for each impact goal
we have set ourselves a small number of strategic outcomes that we believe will enable us
to make best use of our unique assets and the opportunities we can see in this period in
Mozambique to bring about long-term, sustainable change.

The table below sets out our vision, four impact goals and associated strategic outcomes. It
therefore sets out the agenda for our work. The full version of this strategy adds one more
layer of detail: the specific contributions we will make towards achieving each strategic
outcome. It also contains a monitoring and evaluation framework.

Our vision is of a secure and prosperous Mozambique, where the benefits of economic
growth are shared so the basic needs of all people are met; where the rights of women are
respected and women participate fully in public and private spheres; where all people,
especially the youth, can participate in decision making and influence the policies that
impact on their lives; and where public and private sector institutions are accountable and
transparent.

Impact Goals Strategic Outcomes

1. Advancing Political accountability and transparency: A more politically

accountable politics for inclusive Mozambican society where the state is open,
better public services representative and transparent with adequate and effective
and increased food feedback mechanisms, including freedom of expression, in place
security to enable citizens to hold the state to account.

Citizen engagement and participation: Citizens feel safe and

confident to engage in decision-making processes and can hold
power holders to account.

Good quality, well-funded education, water and sanitation

services: A fairer Mozambique, where the government invests in
and creates a policy environment to ensure access to inclusive,
equitable, affordable and high-quality essential services (water,
sanitation, education) for all.

A more food secure Mozambique: Investment in agriculture is

increased and managed in a participatory and transparent
manner, and policies support improved productivity and
resilience of small-scale farmers so that food security is
sustained, resilience to climate change and shocks is improved,
and small-scale producers can increase their incomes.
2. Transforming social A greater number of parents and guardians are actively
norms so young women supportive of girls’ and young women’s education.
can flourish
Young people, boys and girls are more aware of women’s rights
and use them to influence decision making that affects their lives
within their households, schools and communities.

Existing legislation that protects and promotes gender equality is

widely known and utilized by law enforcement institutions and
officials.

3. Avoiding the The government and companies are transparent and

Resource Curse! accountable on extractives revenue generation, management
Making extractive and expenditure.
industries transparent
Communities (particularly women and youth) are able to
and accountable to all
participate in formal EI value chains.

Human rights of EI-affected communities are respected and

protected by companies and duty bearers.

Fair climate financing mechanisms are developed at a global

level to provide an alternative to the exploitation of natural
carbon reserves.

4. Improving crisis A reduction in the number of women, men and children who die
preparedness and or suffer illness, insecurity and deprivation as a result of
humanitarian response humanitarian emergencies.

Those most at risk will be able to exercise their right to

emergency services and have their needs met in line with
established international humanitarian standards.

Women’s rights and needs will be planned for and met in all
humanitarian responses.

Conclusion
This strategy confirms what we have decided and sets the roadmap for our next steps. This
thinking will always be a “work in progress”: we will need to continue to learn, reflect and
make the best judgements we can about how we add most value throughout the life of our
plan.

We thank our partners for encouraging us and challenging us throughout this process.
Please see our full strategy to see how we have risen to the challenge to produce a
“radar strategy” (identifying our specific points of added value and focus) rather than a
“GPS strategy” (mapping everything that needs to be done by everyone).