The MaisPeixe Sustentável (MPS) program implemented by the Blue Economy Development Fund, FP (ProAzul,FP) was highlighted by the World Bank (WB) as an innovative and successful program during the Webinar held yesterday as part of the International Women's Day celebrations under the slogan: celebrating women's contribution to aquatic food systems. 

During the presentation, Juliana Castaño, Natural Resources Management Specialist at the WB, highlighted the positive impact of the program.

"In its implementation, the MPS has already financed 1,300 women who work in the fishing value chain in the central and northern provinces of Mozambique, providing means and jobs, which thus contributes to improving family income," said Juliana.

She added that as part of the MozRural Program and MozNorte Project, the source of funding for the MPS, training in leadership and business management is promoted through the Gender Action and Learning System (GALS), which provides tools to promote gender equality in communities.

To reinforce support, the WB will launch a script called Blue Social Protection to identify solutions and design projects that benefit women, in particular Coastal Insurance - a kind of insurance that protects the investment of individuals and companies from the negative impact of climate change.

MPS is a program with two windows, one to support the artisanal fishing value chain and the other to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The program began its second cycle in 2021 with an overall budget of 14 million dollars, with the aim of reaching 4,000 fishermen, of which 40% should be women in Window 1 and 16 companies for Window 2 by 2026. (Press Release)