Maputo, Mozambique: The Government of Austria has committed 1M Euros (approximately $1.2 million USD) to support UNFPA’s work with the Government of Mozambique to address the urgent needs of women and girls impacted by the crisis in Cabo Delgado.

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, will work with provincial Government and non-governmental partners to scale up life-saving sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services for the most vulnerable women and girls in Northern Mozambique, including Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula provinces.

Beginning in April 2021, the 18-month project aims to target 41,250 vulnerable women and girls, including adolescent girls and women of reproductive age, who are being affected by the continued crisis in the northern provinces.

“Women are the backbone of our society. However, in emergency situations, women and girls are among the most vulnerable. This is why supporting them is bringing back strength and dignity to a society, and is thus a powerful contribution to a sustainable, inclusive and peaceful future for all,” emphasizes Hubert Neuwirth, Representative of Austrian Development Cooperation in Mozambique.

Austria’s funding will support trainings on sexual and reproductive health as well as gender-based violence and referral pathways. It will enable both the procurement of medical equipment and supplies, the provision of remote-based care and distribution of COVID-19-adapted female dignity kits. Vocational and entrepreneurship skills training for women and girls in safe spaces will also be co-financed by Austria, among other key activities. 

“A sustainable humanitarian response for Cabo Delgado can only be achieved if the needs of women and girls are recognized and addressed. UNFPA thanks Austria for their investment and recognition that gender equality and women’s empowerment are precursors for poverty reduction, economic growth and social development. Through this funding, UNFPA will be better equipped to support the Government of Mozambique in positively transforming the lives of women and girls whose rights, health and safety have been threatened by the ongoing crisis,” shares Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA Mozambique Representative.

Entering the decade of action, this project will directly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals 1 (no poverty), 3 (health), 5 (gender equality) and 16 (peace and justice) by strengthening access to sexual and reproductive health services, promoting gender equality at all levels and reducing all forms of violence against women and girls.

The Government of Austria was one of UNFPA’s top 20 global donors in 2019.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

ABOUT AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

Austrian Development Cooperation supports countries in Africa, Asia, South Eastern and Eastern Europe in their sustainable development. The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs plans the strategies. The Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation, implements programmes and projects together with public institutions, civil society organisations as well as enterprises.

ABOUT UNFPA

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, where it aims to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA is the lead agency on both gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health during humanitarian emergencies.

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For more information, please contact:

Karlina Salu

Communications Analyst

Email: jsalu@unfpa.org

Cell: +258-840560246