Of this amount, Mozambique receives $30 million to establish its first Center of Excellence in Agri-Food Systems and Innovation, with the goal of building high-quality technical and research capacity for agricultural development.

"By strengthening research and training in agri-food systems in Mozambique, and by collaboratively expanding knowledge production and dissemination, this project can help broaden the skills base and innovation systems needed for more sustained economic development in Mozambique and the region," noted Emre Ozaltin, Program Leader at the World Bank (WB) for Human Development in Mozambique, quoted in a statement sent to our newsroom.

"This funding from the International Development Association (IDA), will continue to strengthen the capacity of selected higher education institutions in the region, including Mozambique, to deliver quality graduate training and increase capacity to conduct research in priority areas," reads the document.

In the first phase of the project, the statement said, "Mozambique was one of the beneficiary countries and established the Center for Studies in Oil and Gas Engineering and Technology, located at the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), which currently runs four master's programs in areas related to oil and gas.

The second phase of the project will particularly foster cooperation between Mozambique and Malawi, and the East African Inter-University Council for Agriculture, to further strengthen the region's capacity to provide high quality training and applied research in agriculture.

It is worth remembering that the agricultural sector is one of the most important in many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, including Mozambique, accounting for up to 14% of the continent's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Almost 50% of SSA's population is employed through the agricultural sector. The sector is also important for food security, improved nutrition and health, inclusive growth, and better management of the environment.