AfDB and Mozambique Strengthen Capacity for Sustainable Project Management
The African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique, has concluded a capacity-building workshop designed to enhance the sustainability and quality of Bank-financed projects through the application of the Bank’s updated Integrated Safeguards System (ISS).
The five-day training brought together more than 80 participants, including experts from project implementation units, environmental authorities, sectoral ministries, the private sector, and executing agencies.
Approved by the Bank Group’s Board of Directors in April 2023, the updated ISS integrates comprehensive environmental and social safeguards, risk management, and accountability measures into all AfDB operations. Centred on environmental sustainability, social inclusivity, and transparency, the system came into effect in 2024, replacing the 2013 version.
The training forms part of the Bank’s broader effort, through its Environmental and Social Safeguards and Compliance Department, to strengthen the capacity of regional member countries in implementing the ISS. It also responds to the findings of Mozambique’s Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR), which identified the need for improved project sustainability and compliance with environmental and social standards.
During the workshop’s opening, Patrícia Baptista, Country Programme Officer at the AfDB’s Mozambique Country Office, emphasised the importance of aligning project implementation with both the Bank’s and Mozambique’s environmental and social frameworks. She described the workshop as “a practical response to the findings of the Country Portfolio Performance Review and an essential step towards enhancing the sustainability of investments.”
The National Director of the Directorate of Public Debt at the Ministry of Finance, Chamila Aly, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to effective public management and high-quality project delivery. She noted that the updated ISS provides “clearer expectations, practical references, and improved coordination among project units, environmental authorities, and other key sectors.”
Throughout the training, participants discussed critical areas including the preparation and implementation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Management Plans, Resettlement Action Plans, and Stakeholder Engagement Plans.
Modeste Kinane, the AfDB’s Lead Environmental and Social Safeguards and Compliance Officer, encouraged participants to apply their new knowledge to enhance project performance and long-term impact. He added that the workshop also served as “a platform for knowledge exchange, problem-solving, and strengthening collaboration between stakeholders.”
The successful completion of the training reflects growing demand for specialised capacity-building initiatives in Mozambique to ensure sustainable development and effective implementation of the Bank’s Project Portfolio Performance Improvement Plan.
