Maputo, 29 Jun (AIM) – The Swedish government has pledged to disburse 287 million meticais (about 4.5 million US dollars at the current exchange rate) to boost scientific research at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Mozambique’s oldest and largest higher education institution, under the academic cooperation agreement for 2026-2028.
The agreement, signed on Friday in Maputo, marks the 11th consecutive phase of a historic partnership that began in 1978 and is set to culminate in 2028, when both partners will celebrate half a century of uninterrupted bilateral cooperation.
According to Manuel Guilherme, UEM chancellor, speaking during the signing ceremony, this new phase demonstrates the Swedish government’s continuous trust in the university’s institutional capacity.
“The cooperation has evolved from ad-hoc projects into a comprehensive institutional strengthening program. Over nearly 48 years, the partnership has led to the graduation of approximately 188 PhDs and 240 Masters. The most recent phase alone (2017-2026) was responsible for training 60 PhDs and 150 Master’s students, alongside upgrading critical research infrastructure such as libraries, IT systems, and quality assurance mechanisms”, he said.
The new phase, running from July 2026 to December 2028, will prioritize research, development, and innovation activities. It also includes the establishment of a dedicated Grants Office to enhance UEM capacity to mobilize international funding for scientific research independently.
For his part, the Swedish Ambassador to Mozambique, Andrés Jato, said that this program constitutes one of the oldest and most impactful academic partnerships in the country.
Jato recalled the humble beginnings of the cooperation in 1978, which started by supporting just five marine biology students and funding the creation of UEM Historical Archives.
“Since then, the partnership has evolved to include collaborations with several Swedish and regional universities. The Swedish support was crucial in developing local doctoral programs in Mathematics, Statistics, and Geographic Information Technologies, as well as funding the UEM Radiotherapy Center”, the diplomat said.
Many of the 180 PhDs and over 300 Master’s graduates funded by Sweden currently hold high-level positions in both public and private sectors in Mozambique.
The Ambassador also expressed confidence that this new phase will solidify these results and drive UEM toward its strategic goal of establishing itself fully as a research-led university by
2028.
However, last December, Sweden announced that it is gradually closing down its bilateral cooperation with five countries, including Mozambique, by 31 August 2026.
The other four countries are Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Liberia and Bolivia. Swedish aid had already been cut to several West African countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso: but these cases were clearly connected with military juntas, closely aligned with Russia, seizing power in those countries.
The embassy statement claimed that the decision is not related to any event in Mozambique “but is motivated by new and significant challenges in matters of security policy in the countries bordering Sweden”.
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