EMPOWER: Government launches fund to transform the lives of Mozambican women

The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, announced this Tuesday the creation of the Women's Economic Empowerment Fund (EMPODERA), an initiative that promises to boost women's financial autonomy and open new doors for female entrepreneurship in Mozambique.

The announcement was made as part of the celebrations for Mozambican Women's Day, observed throughout the country, and comes as a response to commitments made by the State to promote gender equality.

According to the Head of State, EMPODERA was created with a clear mission: to promote women's economic independence, expand access to opportunities, support productive initiatives, and lift thousands of women out of vulnerability, setting them on the path to prosperity with dignity and hope.

“Celebrating Mozambican women means recognizing their transformative role; their resilience, intelligence, and ability to turn challenges into opportunities are pillars of our national identity,” she emphasized.

Despite the announcement, details regarding the fund's capital and management model have not yet been released. It is known, however, that EMPODERA will be implemented within the framework of the Local Economic Development Fund, an existing initiative that has generated concern among beneficiaries due to the amounts disbursed, which are considered below expectations.

Speaking in Maputo, after laying a wreath at the Crypt of Mozambican Heroes, Chapo stressed that women's empowerment is not just a social issue, but an imperative for the country's development.

"There will be no sustainable development, nor lasting peace, as long as barriers persist that limit the full exercise of women's rights," she stated, advocating for a society where men and women have equal opportunities and dignity.

The President also highlighted the legal progress achieved by Mozambique, including reforms that strengthen the protection of women and girls, such as laws that combat child marriage, guarantee inheritance rights, and promote equality within the family.

In the same speech, she reiterated her commitment to the "Zero Violence" goal, promising to strengthen actions to combat domestic violence, gender-based violence, and femicide, with the support of the EMPODERA program.

"Our objective is clear: an economically strong woman, socially protected, and a society that rejects violence and silence as the norm," she stressed.

This year's celebrations took place under the motto "Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls," reflecting, according to the President, the direction of the national agenda for inclusive transformation.

Source: Mozambique Letter