The European Union has just approved the Strategic Program for Mozambique (2021-2027), with a financial package for the first four years amounting to 428 million euros for the development sector.

According to the EU delegation in Mozambique, in a statement cited by Lusa, the Multi-Year Indicative Program for Mozambique for the period 2021 to 2027 was approved under the new Neighborhood, Development Cooperation and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe, which replaced the European Development Fund.

"The partnership between the European Union and Mozambique will be based on a multidimensional approach, focusing on the priority needs of the country, with gender aspects a cross-cutting priority. This development support will contribute to an integrated response to the issues of peace and security, humanitarian aid and development," reads the document quoted by Lusa.

In practice, Mozambique's new Multi-Year Indicative Program 2021-2027 presents three priority areas: Green Growth, Youth Growth, and Governance, Peace and Just Society.

In this sense, Green Growth focuses on the conservation and protection of the environment for the sustainable development of Mozambique.

The EU underlines that, the plan aims to create economic opportunities and employment by transforming production patterns towards more sustainable and inclusive models. In youth, the support will ensure adequate nutrition and food security, more investment in inclusive and quality education, and the creation of more employment opportunities.

In the areas of Governance, Peace, and a Just Society, the Indicative Program aims to "respond to the challenges of governance and promote an inclusive society by strengthening democratic institutions at central and decentralized levels, the protection and promotion of human rights, and support for an independent and pluralistic press.

"Among the priority interventions of this program will be to combat growing inequalities. Support for civil society will also have an important place in cooperation between the European Union and Mozambique with a view to strengthening pluralism," the statement added.