Background: Mozambique has overcome a prolonged civil war and centuries as a Portuguese territory to emerge as a country that is now changing and developing at a remarkable pace, with complex economic development, humanitarian assistance, and health care needs.

IRD in Mozambique: IRD Mozambique implements six programs in the technical areas of Health, Relief, and Food Security. IRD programs are funded by USAID, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Mozambique’s National AIDS Council (CNCS), United Nation’s World Food Program (WFP) and private donors. IRD partners with a variety of local non-governmental organizations, religious groups and Mozambican networks of associations. While IRD implements activities in Maputo and Gaza as well, its focal province is Inhambane, where IRD has two operational offices.

IRD is implementing a CNCS-funded HIV/AIDS program in Maxixe, Homoine and Massinga Districts, facilitated in partnership with RENSIDA, the National Network of Organizations of People Living with HIV/AIDS. The program aims to establish, support and foster the sustainability of three local organizations of People Living with HIV/AIDS through partnerships with medical providers. IRD has also partnered with the United Nations’ World Food Program for its Community Saftey Net program for the distribution of food, and the promotion of a balanced diet to patients that receive anti-retroviral treatment and orphans and vulnerable children.  IRD currently has four operating distribution points in the districts of Maxixe, Homoine, Inhambane and Zavala.

Awareness and education efforts implemented by IRD include the Women First program, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which aims to decrease the HIV/AIDS vulnerability of women in the provinces of Zambezia and Inhambane through an intensive peer-to-peer campaign raising awareness while offering micro-finance activities. IRD has also partnered with the Women’s Society of the United Methodist Church of Mozambique to combat HIV/AIDS through comprehensive awareness campaigns. In the long-term, IRD is committed to improving the economic and social status of women and has partnered with Unilever for the implementation of micro-finance activities.

Programs

• Civil Society Support
• Community Mobilization/Training in Sanitation
• Community Safety Net
• Drought Relief and Emergency Food Aid
• Emergency Flood Response, 2007 and 2008
• Harvest: An Emergency Response to the Drought Affected Massinga District
• National Council for HIV/AIDS Positive Organizational Development Program
• Women First HIV/AIDS

Highlights

• Flooding in Mozambique Worsens, More Communities Evacuated
• Thousands Flee Flooding in Mozambique
• IRD Prepares Response for Flooding in Mozambique
• IRD Celebrates World Aids Day in Mozambique with Local Associations of People Living With HIV/AIDS
• IRD Provides Apiculture Trainings for Bee-Keeping Associations
• IRD's Anti-Drought Programs Succeed Due to Community Participation

Success Stories

• Orphaned Children Learn Life Skills through IRD’s Program in Inhambane Province
• A Life Worth Living - One Man's Participation in IRD's Food Assistance Program for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Maxixe
• New IRD Program Gives Women Business Opportunities in Mozambique

Video

• Canal Zero Television Mozambique special report on IRD's sustainable agriculture initiatives

Press Releases

• IRD Launches the Women First Program in Mozambique

Contact
Mark Heffernan
Country Director

Maputo Office:
Avenue Base N’Tchinga 567
Bairro Coop
Maputo
Mozambique
Phone: 011-258-21-415953
E-mail: tntasis@ird-dc.org