Oxfam Ibis sub-programme within AGIR II

Examples of results - Increased pressure by the judicial power on EI companies and the State for failure to comply with regulations governing resettlement processes and thus respecting community rights. - Increased contributions to CSR and implementation of the corporate social responsibility policy for the extractive industry. - Rights-holders are increasingly raising their concerns and claiming their rights. During the period under review they used the ICT platform (CIVILINFO) to expose violations of communities rights. A total of 143 cases were presented and 68 (38%) were addressed, mainly in Nampula (Kenmare and HMM) and Cabo-Delgado (MRM). - Increased accountability of companies to EI-affected communities as a direct result of the congress of resettled and affected communities organized by the Extractive Industry Civic Coalition (Coligação Cívica para a Indústria Extractiva CCIV) - Growing demand for accountability by the executive to assembly committees on plans and budgets. There was e.g. a temporary halt to public works in Nampula, Nacala and Angoche municipalities, to demand compliance with the law and procurement procedure. - Enhanced capacity of the Nampula, Zambézia, Tete and Cabo Delgado Provincial Assemblies to monitor public finances, as a result of the training and technical support provided by CEDSIF. - More women chairing committees (about 25%) in the Nampula and Nacala Porto assemblies. - More interaction between duty bearers and citizens (e.g. in the Nampula and Nacala Municipal Assemblies, and the Nampula Provincial Assembly, citizens and CSOs participate in regular sessions upon registration; the Nacala Porto Municipal Assembly holds regular meetings with citizens to learn about their concerns, channel them to the town council and follow up on the responses. - Increased access to justice by citizens (2763 women and 763 men), especially the most vulnerable, who benefited from the pro bono legal assistance provided by the Instituto de Acesso à Justiça (IAJ). - Increased transparency in the management of public services. The stronger engagement of citizens in management and decision-making processes contributed to increased number of citizens (men and women) benefiting from access to information and quality health and education services. - Citizens of both sexes, in rural and urban contexts, are systematically denouncing bad practices in the governance process by using ICT and petitions. This is leading to stronger accountability of public servants and other local development actors. - Improved quality of public services (education, health) due to increased community surveillance and CSO monitoring through the gendered sectorial committees and use of ICT. It is expected that they will be sustainable as a result of the training they have received. -Advocacy on the repeal of the Law on State Secrecy, that contradicts the Right to Information Law and its statutes, moved forward in 2019. Following CSO (mainly MISA) pressure, the Ombudsman submitted the issue to the Constitutional Council (CC) for deliberation and awaits reply. - Improved legal environment for guaranteeing fundamental freedoms by the repeal of legislation that prevented the exercise of the right to information. - More protection for press freedom through the provision of pro bono legal assistance for journalists, particularly those working in Cabo Delgado. - Increased ownership of the Right to Information Law (RTIL) within the Government of Mozambique through its ministries. The RTIL has become the agenda of the Government. - Improved content and quality of ministry websites to ensure better access to information for citizens. Non-expected results PO participation in the elections contributed to more intensive engagement by citizens, especially women and youth. Approximately 1,040 citizens/activists were directly linked to election monitoring (from voter registration to the vote itself) through AICE. Some 30,000 citizens actively participated in the process through digital platforms (e.g. Othanla platform). Through the involvement of community radio stations and newsletters, POs made a significant contribution to election information.

AGIR (Acções para uma Governação Inclusiva e Responsável) was a programme funded by the embassies of Sweden and the Netherlands with the aim of supporting local Mozambican civil society organisations. Oxfam IBIS was one of four intermediary partner organisations (IPOs), together with Diakonia, Oxfam Novib and We Effect, and was responsible for the Access to Information and Citizens Engagement (AICE) sub-programme, supporting 14 local Mozambican Partner Organisations working in the following strategic thematic areas: 1) Accountability of the extractive industries (EI) and transparency of revenue collection contributes to a more equitable pattern of expenditure allocation; 2) Informed accountability of governments to parliamentarians and to female and male rights-holders and electorate; 3) Improved quality and coverage of basic public services (education and health) for female and male right holders; 4) Access to information and media professionalism. In addition, there were four cross cutting issues; Gender, Sexual Rights and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) including HIV and Aids, Youth and Climate Change.