Begging again!
Mozambique has now spoken at the United Nations General Assembly. President Daniel Francisco Chapo’s speech contained some of the clearest requests for international financial and material support I have heard today.
1. Give Mozambique more international support to fight terrorism and rebuild Cabo Delgado.
After thanking SADC, the European Union, Rwanda and Tanzania, Chapo said:
“We call for a more predictable and coordinated international support to consolidate security, stabilization, reconstruction and development in the affected areas.”
2. Give developing countries predictable and accessible financing.
On achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, he said:
“It requires predictable, accessible and sustainable financing.”
3. Give developing countries debt relief.
Chapo explicitly called for:
“A fair international financial architecture, more fair, sustainable debt relief.”
Later he returned to the same demand:
“We continue to advocate for… more predictable and accessible financing and sustainable solutions for the debt.”
4. Give us greater technology transfer.
Another requirement he placed before the international community was:
“Greater transfer of technology.”
And later:
“We need to have investment in connectivity, computing capacity, scientific research, training of young people in Africa, technology transfer.”
5. Give vulnerable countries greater access to concessional financing.
Chapo specifically argued that eligibility should not simply depend on national income:
“It is also necessary that access to concessional financing take into account the country’s vulnerabilities beyond just income.”
6. Developed countries must fulfill their financial commitments.
This was one of the most direct financial appeals:
“We also want to make sure that developed countries can fully fulfill their commitment to development and financial action.”
He immediately presented Mozambique as:
“One of the countries that is more vulnerable in the world.”
7. Increase climate funding for Mozambique and other vulnerable countries.
After discussing cyclones, floods, droughts and destroyed infrastructure, Chapo said:
“We therefore reiterate the need to increase funding for adaptation.”
8. Give us easier access to international climate funds.
He continued:
“Facilitate access to climate funds.”
9. Activate the international loss-and-damage system.
He also demanded:
“Operationalize the loss and damage mechanisms.”
In other words, international climate mechanisms should provide resources to countries suffering severe climate-related losses.
10. Finance early-warning systems and climate-resistant infrastructure.
His next request was:
“Invest in early warning systems and resilient infrastructure.”
11. Humanitarian assistance needs more money.
Discussing Mozambique’s vulnerability to cyclones, floods, drought and food insecurity, Chapo warned:
“Humanitarian needs are already facing a severe funding shortfall.”
12. Invest in Africa’s digital infrastructure and scientific capacity.
Chapo called for outside investment across a wide range of technological areas:
“We need to have investment in connectivity, computing capacity, scientific research, training of young people in Africa, technology transfer.”
13. Mozambique wants international partnerships and investment.
After presenting Mozambique’s minerals, energy resources, agriculture and Indian Ocean location, he said:
“We therefore seek partnerships that build national capacity, promote local content, respect the environment, and generate employment.”
So the external requests were extensive: international security assistance, reconstruction support, development financing, debt relief, concessional loans, climate financing, loss-and-damage resources, humanitarian funding, technology transfer, scientific investment, digital infrastructure and foreign partnerships.
To his credit, Chapo also repeatedly spoke about local value addition, industrialization, agriculture, Mozambique’s own natural resources and moving Africa “from dependence to capacity building.”
But when it came to financing, his message to the international community was unmistakable: more accessible financing, debt relief, concessional finance, climate money, technology transfer and greater international support.
-Tapang Ivo Tanku