Maputo, 3 Mar (AIM) – The Japanese government has pledged to disburse 6.9 million US dollars to support access to documentation and legal services for households displaced by Islamist terrorism in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
The project, which will be carried out by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will support, from 2026 to 2028, the rehabilitation or reconstruction of 27 government service points and strengthen the capacity of 300 provincial and district officials responsible for civil registration, identification, and legal assistance, contributing to more accessible and sustainable service delivery.
According to a statement preceding a partnership agreement signed by the UNHCR and the Japanese government, the project will facilitate access to civil documentation for approximately 100,000 people and provide legal assistance to around 30,000 individuals and reach 120,000 people through information and awareness activities in hard-to-reach areas of Cabo Delgado.
“The project will be carried out through mobile documentation and legal aid services. The project focuses on practical solutions that bring services closer to communities and help reduce barriers faced by displaced families”, reads the note.
According to the document, in Cabo Delgado, many displaced and returnee families remain without the civil documentation needed to rebuild their lives, increasing protection risks and deepening vulnerability.
“By restoring legal identity, this partnership helps people move freely and safely, access services and livelihoods, and reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance. It is therefore not only about protection, but also about enabling self-reliance and supporting durable solutions for displaced families and the communities hosting them”, said UNHCR representative Xavier Creach, cited in the document.
For his part, the Japanese Ambassador to Mozambique, Keiji Hamada, said that his country will continue to help Mozambican authorities strengthen public institutions by supporting their reconstruction.
“By supporting access to civil documentation, legal services, and administrative capacity-building, this project directly contributes to social reintegration, inclusion, and the establishment of solid foundations for local governance”, he said.
(AIM)
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