The delegation, composed of directors and staff from Office VIII (Dr. Barbara Gamboni and Mr. Alessandro Marcheggiani, ICT, logistics, and general services), Office IX (Dr. Paolo Tabarro and Dr. Francesca Raimondo, legal affairs, tenders, contracts, and disputes), Office X (Dr. Andrea Chirico and Dr. Angelo Gorga, administration, finance, and accounting), Office XI (Dr. Annamaria Iotti and Mr. Jonas Muraro, human resources), and the Deputy Administrative Directorate (Dr. Francesco La Pia), aimed primarily to support and monitor the administrative and operational procedures of the Maputo office, ensuring their efficiency and compliance with the central office’s guidelines.
The activities carried out during the mission included the verification and implementation of security protocols, as well as the management and updating of existing contracts and agreements. Special attention was given to monitoring human resources management practices, optimizing the use of the Documit platform, and reviewing the SIGOV system.
The mission also encompassed the integrated management of the documentary archive, both physical and digital, ensuring the continuous updating of the inventory and full compliance with internal regulations. Additionally, the appropriate use of the Transparent Administration Portal (PAT) for uploading administrative procedures was verified, in accordance with principles of transparency and accountability.
Among other activities, the delegation conducted an in-depth analysis of accounting processes, examining financial management and contract execution to ensure alignment with best management practices. Finally, the efficiency of the office’s IT system was reviewed, with a particular focus on the performance of security systems, including firewalls.
During the mission, key topics were addressed related to security, contract management, human resources, accounting, and the optimization of digital tools, with particular emphasis on the Documit and SIGOV platforms. Special focus was given to updating the documentary archive and using the Transparent Administration Portal to ensure adherence to transparency and accountability principles.
The delegation also had the opportunity to visit several flagship projects of the AICS office in Maputo, in the areas of health, environment, and job creation. Specifically, they visited the Health Training Institute, a beneficiary of activities linked to two health sector projects, which currently trains healthcare technicians in various specializations, including neonatology, intensive care, anesthesiology, and medical instrumentation.
Subsequently, the delegation visited the start-up incubator at Eduardo Mondlane University, supported by the Coding Girls and ICT4DEV projects. During the visit, they had the opportunity to engage with representatives of some of the start-ups, learning firsthand about their innovations and ideas. The incubator has the capacity to host up to 24 start-ups.
Lastly, the delegation visited the Natural History Museum, an iconic landmark in Maputo. With over a century of history, the museum is currently undergoing renovation and upgrading with AICS funds. Once the refurbishment is complete, it will become a modern museum capable of fulfilling essential roles in education, research, and exhibition.
These visits provided an important opportunity for dialogue with government partners, implementing civil society organizations, and beneficiaries, offering a comprehensive overview of cooperation activities in Mozambique, their challenges, and opening a channel for reflection on potential solutions to be addressed by Rome in coordination with the AICS office in Maputo.
The mission will now proceed with the development of a set of recommendations aimed at improving the work of the AICS office in Maputo.
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