USAID LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME EXPANDS

USAID LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME EXPANDS

Maputo, 8 Dec (AIM) – The US embassy in Maputo has announced the launch of the second phase of the USAID Local Governance Strengthening (LOGOS) project.

The launch ceremony took place during the visit to the northern province of Cabo Delgado of Maria Detherage, the senior official for southern Africa of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This second phase expands the LOGOS technical assistance for local government officials to Cabo Delgado and includes donated computer equipment for the provincial government.

“Partnering to support democratic governance is a top priority for the U.S. Government,” claimed Detherage. “USAID believes and invests in the power of local governance. In partnership with the Government of Mozambique and in support of the national decentralization agenda, the expansion of the LOGOS program offers an opportunity to improve the delivery of basic services, such as health, education, water, and sanitation, as well as increase transparency and accountability to citizens.”

According to a US embassy release, the LOGOS project “provides technical assistance to local officials to improve strategic planning processes, improve planning and budget processes, collection and management of local revenues, and strengthen accountability on service delivery in education, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene”.

This phase of the project is a 10.5 million dollar investment that supports Nampula, Zambezia and Cabo Delgado Provinces and targets districts affected by islamist terrorism.

“Technical assistance to these provincial and district officials includes training to improve budget and planning processes, introduction of financial management systems, and other tools to build responsive local governments”, said the release. “The project will continue to improve social accountability mechanisms and citizen capacity to meaningfully participate in governance processes at provincial, district and municipal levels and support the government entities of these provinces to improve their effectiveness and ability to address the root causes of the violent extremism”.
(AIM)
Pf/ (310)