Two decades of civil war, a series of famines, and the enormous toll of HIV/AIDS have had a devastating effect on Mozambique's civil society, private sector, and public health system. Mozambique's youth represent over a third of the country's total population and the nation's most important resource for the future. Yet the estimated six million Mozambicans aged 10 to 24 face limited employment opportunities, skyrocketing rates of HIV infection, and high rates of maternal morbidity, mortality and unsafe abortion. Mozambique's government ratified a National Youth Policy in 1996 and a National AIDS Strategic Plan in June 2000, but the challenges ahead will require broader action.

Recognizing the value of cross-border collaboration, in August 2001 IWHC co-sponsored the first in a series of learning exchanges on adolescent sexual and reproductive health between Nigerians and Mozambicans. Bringing together representatives of government, NGOs, and youth from both countries, the exchange in Maputo, Mozambique galvanized all participants for further action in their respective countries. Mozambicans were inspired by the Nigerian NGOs' success in developing a national sexuality education curriculum, and Nigerians were impressed by the Mozambican government’s commitment to supporting adolescent-friendly health services. Click here to read more about the exchange.

In 2002, IWHC organized a reciprocal exchange, bringing a group of Mozambican NGO and government representatives to Nigeria to observe the work of some of our colleague organizations there. They participated in a series of workshops on gender and sexuality education; observed a teacher training session for implementation of the new national sexuality education curriculum; and attended trainings on adolescent rights.

Building on these first meetings and the ongoing collaborations that grew out of them, in 2002 IWHC was invited by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Mozambique to become a partner in its new national program, "Expanding Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health Among In- and Out-of-School Youth in Maputo City." A partnership between the Mozambican Association for Family Development (AMODEFA—an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation), Pathfinder International, and the Maputo City Government, the program aims to address adolescents’ health needs as well as strengthen individual leaders—both adults who work with adolescents, and adolescents themselves—to be advocates for youth.

Although both young men and young women in Mozambique face great obstacles to the full realization of their health and rights, girls contend with a number of added risks. More than one third of girls aged 15 to 19 are sexually active, yet only half have heard of modern contraception, and less than one percent use condoms as their primary method. Girls face the additional burdens of harassment and violence in school, more responsibilities at home, and among women aged 15 to 24, an HIV-prevalence rate twice as high as boys.

Given these gender inequalities, part of IWHC’s unique contribution to the Maputo City project is to ensure girls' equal participation in the struggle to focus attention on young people's health and rights—as both beneficiaries and protagonists. Bringing our expertise on gender, sexuality, and advocacy, we will continue to facilitate regional exchanges and collaborations, organize workshops, and help strengthen the capacity of Mozambican NGOs and youth associations to advocate for services at the community and policy levels. In particular, we will identify the factors limiting girls' participation in youth organizations and programs, and develop ways to mitigate their impact.

Most recently, in August 2005 we supported an exchange between ten activists from Geração Biz and youth representatives from several of our colleague organizations and allies in Brazil. Click here to read about the exchange.