Mozambique

Mozambique has one of the highest rates of under-5 mortality in the world, along with a high burden of diseases related to contaminated water and poor sanitation, such as diarrhea and cholera. Weak governance and infrastructure gaps exacerbate inequalities between both urban and rural populations and rich and poor populations, which strains service delivery institutions. Low levels of water and sanitation services and poor hygiene practices result in high levels of diarrheal disease and malnutrition, which reduces the ability of Mozambicans to benefit from, and participate in, sustainable, long-term economic growth. The situation also fuels dissatisfaction with government services.

USAID focuses its investments on drinking water and sanitation sector targets by providing support for activities that increase access to sustainable services (subject to the availability of funds). Key strategic priorities include leveraging funding through public-private partnerships for WASH gains, promoting private sector involvement in water and sanitation service delivery, and increasing the availability of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure in health care facilities and communities. The Government of Mozambiqueestablished a governance framework for private sector involvement in WASH service delivery, which provides an opportunity to test and scale-up innovative models. 

USAID coordinates closely with other donors active in the WASH sector, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, UNICEF, and the World Bank.