Maputo, 14 October (AIM) – The Mozambican Government intends to establish a public monitoring matrix of the Development Observatory’s recommendations, assigning to each recommendation one person responsible, one deadline and one indicator, in order to strengthen accountability and ensure that the decisions taken are translated into concrete results.
The proposal was presented on Wednesday in Maputo by the Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá, at the opening of the 23rd session of the Development Observatory, which defended the need to transform the mechanism into an effective monitoring area of the commitments made.
“The next session will open with an assessment of the actions taken,” Valá said, stressing the need to bring dialogue closer to decision-making, implementation of results and public policies to the needs of citizens.
The representative of the Government proposed five commitments to improve the functioning of the Observatory, including the revision of the Strategic Guidance Document, the holding of preparatory thematic sessions, the creation of a panel of indicators for the Economic and Social Plan and the State Budget (PESOE) 2027, and the training of participants in the analysis of plans, budgets, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The initiative also includes quarterly monitoring of the indicators of the EESP 2027 and dissemination of the results of the 2025 Household Budget Survey (IOF), which should help to update the assessment of poverty and the well-being of the population.
” We cannot transform what we do not measure,” stressed the Minister, advocating evidence-based governance, transparency and the participation of different development actors.
Valá acknowledged, however, that the Observatory is facing challenges that affect its functioning, including the irregularity of the sessions, the low level of activity of district observatories, the technical limitations of some participants and dependence on external funding.
Citing a study by the Catholic University of Mozambique on the Observatoire de la province de Gaza, he pointed out that, between 2021 and 2024, attendance at the sessions had increased from 73 to 170 people. The study also highlighted concrete results, such as the construction of classrooms in Chibotane, in the district of Massingir, following the referral of the Observatory.
“A problem facing the Observatory for the third time is no longer just a problem for the sector. This is a problem for the Observatory itself,” he warned.
On the economic side, the Minister argued that Mozambique should accelerate the diversification of its economy, without relying exclusively on the future expansion of liquefied natural gas production.
He cited agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, agro-industry, tourism, logistics, digitization and services as sectors that could create jobs and increase family incomes.
The Governor also stressed the need to harmonize planning, budgeting and execution, considering that public resources should be devoted to priorities that have the greatest impact on the lives of citizens.
” And a rule must apply throughout the cycle: what is planned must be included in the budget, and what is included in the budget must be effectively implemented,” he said.
Valá called for the involvement of the private sector, civil society, academia, cooperation partners, youth and women in monitoring public policies.
The 23rd session of the Development Observatory was held under the motto “Together on the same path: participation, results and confidence on the path of the OEPS 2027”, with the aim of strengthening participation, transparency and achieving concrete results.
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