On December 11th and 12th, 2023, the International Conference on “The Contribution of Eduardo Mondlane University to the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” took place, with active participation from the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS). The ceremony was organized within the framework of the Localization Program of the SDGs in the provinces of Maputo and Cabo-Delgado, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and financed by the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation (AACID).
The event served as a foundation to assess the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Mozambique and to exchange ideas on the implementation of the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets among academic institutions, government, civil society, international donors, and United Nations agencies. The event featured the presence, among others, of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, Alberto Cerezo, the Representative of UNDP in Mozambique, Edo Stork, the Director of AICS-Maputo, Paolo Enrico Sertoli, the Rector of UEM, Manuel Guilherme Júnior, as well as the Coordinator for Central and Eastern Africa of AACID, Esther Hernández.
In his opening speech, the Magnificent Rector of UEM, Manuel Guilherme Júnior, highlighted the “2030 Agenda as one of the most ambitious global agreements in history” and reinforced UEM’s commitment to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He cited the recent Workshop on Water Quality Monitoring in Mozambique, organized under the AID. 12089 – BioForMoz project, funded by AICS, as a concrete initiative to achieve SDG number 6, “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”
In the panel on “National and International Cooperation for the Mainstreaming of the 2030 Agenda” Paolo Enrico Sertoli, Director of the AICS office in Maputo, presented the Agency’s initiatives in collaboration with the University UEM, highlighting the SDGs and the targets intended to be achieved through these initiatives. He mentioned the recent opening of the UEM business incubator, a result of the AID. 12227 Coding Girls project, which supports young entrepreneurs to contribute to SDG 5, especially target 5.2 of empowering women and girls through information and communication technologies. Significant emphasis was placed on initiatives contributing to the achievement of SDGs 14 and 15, with special reference to targets 14.2, 15.1, 15.5, and 15.9.
Furthermore, during the AICS intervention, the four principles of effectiveness were mentioned: Ownership, Results-Based Management, Inclusive Partnership, and Transparency and Mutual Accountability. In conclusion, it was emphasized that in 2024, AICS will conduct a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Multi-Year Indicative Plan (PIP) 2022-2024, a review useful for identifying, among other things, possible cooperation sectors with UEM, serving as a basis for future joint projects.
In the other panels, it was emphasized that the achievement of SDGs depends on the collective efforts of the government, civil society, individuals, and the private sector. In this context, the example of Nike was mentioned, which currently uses 80% renewable energy and aims to reach 100% by 2025. The importance of involving young people in achieving the SDGs was highlighted, especially considering that 75% of the population in Mozambique is under 35 years old. Finally, all participants stressed the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, given that only 6 years remain…
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