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Today is World Down Syndrome day.

Generally speaking, people with this condition are very loving and sympathetic. They are sensitive, easily pleased and always willing to convey happiness. Kisses and intimate hugs characterise their particularly kind way of showing their affection. But does society return the affection with the same intensity?

It was with the response to this question in mind that Moza has decided to join forces with the Mozambican Association for the Support of People with Down Syndrome (APSDM), which has been developing various projects for the social and professional integration of people with this condition for over six years. This is a non-profit organisation that supports the psycho-motor development of these citizens, ensuring that they have the practical skills to take up the job opportunities that emerge on the market.

According to the President of APSDM, Ermelinda Nhantave, with the support of Moza and other partners, the association will this year implement the second phase of a training project, with certification, which will enable beneficiaries to have the aptitude to work in a variety of areas including: Human Resources, Cutting and Sewing, Hospitality, Cookery and Handicrafts.

Some of the beneficiaries of the first phase of this project are now employed in public and private institutions that have a partnership with APSDM and which, like Moza, believe in the potential of people with Down Syndrome.

"APSDM's work also involves a lot of social education to raise public awareness of the need to see people with Down syndrome as people capable of learning, knowing and doing, just like anyone else whose physical and mental condition is considered 'normal'. Seeing these people employed, with families, married and happy is, in fact, our great purpose," Ermelinda Nhantave highlighted.

In fact, as well as supporting adults of working age, the association also helps families who have children with this condition.

"Assistance, especially in the embryonic phase of growth, is extremely important for people with Down syndrome, because, just to give an example, a child with Down syndrome can already walk when properly assisted by the age of four, but when this assistance is not given, the child doesn't start walking until the age of nine or ten. As an association, we want to avoid such a delay," explained the President of APSDM, an organisation that brings together around 300 people with this condition and more than 100 with various disabilities.

In fact, 21^st March was conceived internationally to invite humanity in general to reflect on the issues surrounding people with Down syndrome.

According to the CEO of Moza Banco, Manuel Soares, Moza is marking this anniversary by once again demonstrating that it is in favour of the inclusion of all Mozambicans.

"As a Bank, we will always support causes that have noble and unifying objectives. We are a family that stands for inclusion and that's why we believe that supporting the training and professional integration of people with Down syndrome contributes to the country having even more professionals available to carry out the various professions that contribute to national development. We are all equal and that's why we should have equal opportunities," Manuel Soares said.

As a bank for Mozambicans, Moza promotes inclusion and equal opportunities for all, thus helping to build a more empathetic, resilient society that respects diversity.

About APSDM:

The Mozambican Association for the Support of People with Down Syndrome (APSDM) was created in 2018 by Mozambican journalist Ermelinda Nhantave following a particular episode that significantly marked her life. When she gave birth to her daughter seven years ago, the doctor in charge informed her that the child had been born with Down syndrome. Impacted by the news, Ermelinda carrried out exhaustive research and learnt more about the condition, its signs and its occurrence in Mozambique. However, as her daughter grew up, Nhantave realised that, in the end, the child didn't have the typical characteristics of the syndrome. Following a new medical assessment, it was discovered that, in fact, her daughter did not have Down syndrome. Even so, Ermelinda decided to make an effort to identify and support people with the condition. This gave birth to APSDM, which today brings together around 300 people with Down syndrome in Mozambique. The association works to offer support and improve the quality of life for these individuals and their families. 

The Mozambican academic Severino Ngoenha wants Mozambicans to converge in a collective purpose, as a nation, so that they can face the country's new cultural, ideological and development challenges.

Ngoenha's wish was expressed last Thursday, in the town of Maxixe, in Inhambane, as part of the implementation of the II Southern session of Moza Banco's Thinking Mozambique (“Pensar Moçambique”) project, at which he was a speaker, alongside the professor and academic Frei Amaral.  

For Severino Ngoenha, who spoke on the subject of "Identity: an existential dimension that is always to be invented", it is only as long as we are united that we can meet the needs of those who need it most, making for less and less social imbalance.

"It's only as long as we have a collective direction that we can make sure that those less fortunate, instead of one aspirin, have two. Those who walk ten kilometres should walk five and those who only have one meal should have more than one..." Severino Ngoenha said.

Frei Amaral, on the other hand, in light of the topic "Historical-anthropological re-reading of Man from the idea of home as shared interiority" underlined the need to look at Mozambicanness as a continuous process of affirmation and reaffirmation, first individually and then collectively.

"We need to realise that the whole is made up of parts. Only from there will we be able to have a more empathetic and supportive society, ensuring that the idea of a united Mozambique is present in all of us."

Jaime Joaquim, a member of Moza's Executive Committee and the person overseeing the opening of the event, referred to the occasion as a time to "look back on the past and retrieve deep and valuable lessons that can illuminate the path that we currently want to take in the search for Mozambican values".

"We carry on our shoulders the noble mission of forging a future that matches the glorious achievements of our ancestors. A future in which Mozambican identity not only survives, but also flourishes and shines as a beacon of inspiration for other African and world nations. We want us to be able to look back in a few years' time and say with pride that, with the help of all Mozambicans, the "Thinking Mozambique" Project made it happen and became a great success," Jaime Joaquim said.

Through the "Thinking Mozambique" Project, Moza is organising conversation and debate sessions, in which the Bank invites ideologues and thinkers from various fields of knowledge to make their contribution to the process of valuing, rebuilding and appropriating the nation's individual and collective identity as Mozambicans.

This is a project that will be implemented in the three regions of the country, allowing different thinkers and ideologues to contribute their ideas to strengthening culture, patriotism and the sense of nationhood that is already becoming jeopardised by global dynamics, notably hyper-exposure to social networks and different virtual realities.

All the ideas shared in each of the discussion sessions will later be compiled into a book that will be made available for consultation in various Mozambican institutions, particularly national academia. 

In this way, Moza is positioning itself as a bank that acts as a catalyst for a cultural renaissance which inspires Mozambicans to proudly embrace their values and pass them on to new generations.

Last Thursday, 22 February, Moza Banco launched conversation sessions called "Thinking Mozambique", in which the Bank invites ideologues and thinkers from various spheres of knowledge to make their contribution to the process of valuing, rebuilding and appropriating the nation's individual and collective identity as Mozambicans.

The sessions will take place in the three regions of the country, with its inaugural session held at Moza head office in Maputo, with the participation of renowned Camões Prize-winning writer Paulina Chiziane and the university professors Severino Nguenha and Nataniel Ngomane as speakers.

Among various topics covered, including experiences and skills, Paulina Chiziane invited those present to appreciate themselves more and more, focusing on their origins and the factors that make them unique and different.

"Don't be ashamed of yourself. Before copying what someone else does, get to know yourself. I, Paulina, have been given several labels. Some religious institutions have even said prayers in my name, but I know who I am: an authentic woman who asserts herself as such. Today, I am one of the most influential women in the world simply because I am authentic," said the writer who set out to discuss "The utopia of African independence".

For his part, the Chair of the Bibliographic Fund and also a speaker at the meeting, Nataniel Ngomane, turned his attention to discussing the sense of surrender and sacrifice for the collective good, bringing as an example the "First Group of Mozambican Students in Cuba", who were invited to return home following the process of decolonisation and government transition in Mozambique.

"We all had one purpose: we wanted to contribute to building the country. Many abandoned their individual dreams to return to the country and roll up their sleeves, putting their acquired knowledge into practice in the nation’s service," highlighted Ngomane, who reflected on the need to have a purpose that cuts across all Mozambicans. 

For the Chairperson of Moza's Board of Directors, João Figueiredo, these sessions will make a significant contribution to praising and celebrating Mozambique's cultural, intellectual and identity richness.

"As the world becomes more and more homogenised, we run the risk of losing what makes us unique, which are our centuries-old traditions, our deep-rooted customs, and our ancestral values. But as Moza, the bank that bears the mark of Mozambican Pride, we stand up fearlessly because we don't want to be mere receivers of information. We want to reaffirm Mozambique as a country with a sparkling culture and collective social values," stressed Figueiredo.

Under the slogan "Thinking Mozambique", Moza Banco will organise conversation and reflection sessions on the Construction and Reconstruction of Mozambique and Mozambicanness in the country's three regions, allowing different thinkers to contribute their ideas to strengthening culture, patriotism and the sense of nationhood that is already being jeopardised by global dynamics, especially by hyper-exposure to social networks and different virtual realities.

Moza is thus positioning itself as a bank whose concern goes beyond numbers. A bank that wants to establish itself as a catalyst for a cultural renaissance that inspires Mozambicans to proudly embrace their values and pass them on to future generations. 

With the aim of honouring the deeds of the Mozambican heroes who fell on the various battlefronts for the "liberation of the land and men", Moza joined forces with Marracuene district authorities to ensure that the 129^th anniversary of the Battle of Gwaza Muthini, in which dozens of warriors gave their lives to prevent foreign domination, was made possible.

The event, which took place on 2^nd February, also saw the passing of Mozambican Heroes' Day, which was marked the very next day (3^rd February), with the participation of over 15,000 national and foreign citizens in a packed ceremony where tradition and culture "walked hand in hand".

In her speech on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of Marracuene District, Nércia Sevene, praised the contribution from partners, including the support provided by Moza. "We want Gwaza Muthini to be a celebration that lights the way for a prosperous and promising future for all of us and for this land of warriors". Nércia Sevene added.   

For Executive Board Member Jaime Joaquim, supporting the Gwaza Muthini festivities is an opportunity for Moza to strengthen its sense of belonging and connection with Mozambique's history.

"It's a pleasure to support these celebrations, helping to immortalise this important date in our history, while at the same time underlining our role as a bank that promotes national culture. With this action, we also want to value our heroes, who sacrificed themselves in the name of freedom," Jaime Joaquim highlighted.

This year, Moza intends to further strengthen its actions in the name of Mozambican culture, with the aim of making the history of Mozambique both timeless and cross-generational. By strengthening culture, the Bank believes it is also strengthening itself, since its brand carries the symbol of Mozambican pride - "Made in Mozambique". 

Moza Banco has provided the Empresa Municipal de Mobilidade e Estacionamento (EMME) with around 5 million dollars, equivalent to more than 330 million meticais, in credit, to materialise the project to build the Maputo City Council's multistorey carpark, adjacent to the Central Market.

The already completed infrastructure, inaugurated on Friday (26 January) by the city's mayor, Eneas Comiche, now guarantees a total of 420 parking spaces on 3 levels, considerably easing the pressure on the city's downtown area as far as car parking is concerned. Also under the project, 330 new stalls were added to Maputo's central market, with the aim of minimising the risk associated with informal vending on the city's pavements and roads, an activity that often results in road accidents and other ills.

According to Eneas Comiche, who was speaking at the ceremony to inaugurate the new multistorey carpark, the new building will help to resolve two issues of concern to the town council in one fell swoop, since it "increases the number of stalls in the market to absorb informal vendors, removing them from the pavements and other public spaces; while it also solves the problem of mobility and parking". 

On the same occasion, the authorities announced that residents will be able to access the car park for a symbolic fee of 20 meticais per hour, which is considerably lower than the fee charged by private companies in the same sector.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Jaime Joaquim, a member of Moza's Executive Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the conclusion of the project and welcomed the strength of the partnership with EMME, which dates back to 2017.

"We are proud to know that, with our funding, we have helped to build such important infrastructure for this city. As well as being extremely necessary in the area where it is located (downtown Maputo), the infrastructure reflects how meritorious it can be for Mozambicans to join forces in favour of the common good," Jaime Joaquim said, adding that "as Moza, we commend and want to continue maintaining this partnership with EMME, materialising similar projects in other parts of the city with the same needs."

 By financing initiatives to implement pioneering and essential urban mobility projects, Moza is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development in Mozambique.  

Moza's CFO, Devan Manmoandas, has argued that only by investing in human capital can institutions (especially those linked to the financial sector) succeed in their Digital Transformation processes. For Manmoandas, there is little point in investing in the acquisition of innovative machines, tools and technological systems while the mentality of their users remains reticent about the dynamics of change. 

The statements were made this Wednesday in Maputo during the presentation ceremony of the CFO Survey Mozambique, a study carried out by Ernst & Young that is focused on the financial leaders and employees of 37 institutions in the Banking and Insurance sectors in Mozambique.

To emphasise his point, Manmoandas used the analogy "You can buy the best juicer, but if the fruit isn't good, the juice won't be either", in a clear reference to the need to invest in the skills of employees in order to achieve success. 

The Financial Director also welcomed Mozambique's rapid evolution towards Digital Transformation, pointing to Covid-19 as one of the primary drivers in this irreversible process.

"At Moza, for example, today we don't need a room full of people to produce our reports. Through an integrated system, we are able to work independently and still achieve our goals successfully," he said.

In the same vein, Devan Manmoandas spoke about his work, pointing to the issue of organising, cataloguing and protecting financial data as fundamental to the success of what he does.

"I feel that there is increasing awareness of the need to put financial data issues at the centre of the Digital Transformation strategy. Only with assertive, up-to-date financial information can you ensure a return on investment," Moza's CFO added.  

Moza is proud to be a bank that shares ideas and strategic reflections on various topics, including those that refer to investment in the quality and skills of human capital. The Bank believes that all technology depends on people to make the best results happen. 

As in previous years, during 2023 Moza Banco stood out for its commitment to Social Responsibility, making a series of initiatives possible in various areas, with a particular focus on education, volunteering, sustainability, art and literature and sport.

In education, the Bank ensured that citizens in the districts of Derre (Zambézia), Memba and Murrupula (Nampula), Chimbunila and Majune (Niassa), in the central and northern regions, acquired essential knowledge for a better understanding of the need to save and invest, with the implementation of the radio programme on financial education called "Conta com o Moza" (Count on Moza). The message, broadcast in local languages, was mainly aimed at people in rural areas, including farmers, small traders, students, civil servants and state agents.

In the same period, Moza trained dozens of journalists in issues relating to the national financial market, with the aim of providing the press with tools to analyse the various reports and scenarios relating to the country's economy.

On the humanitarian front, Moza answered the call of the victims of the floods that hit the district of Boane in February last year, joining the efforts of the local authority by promoting campaigns to collect goods and basic necessities to alleviate the suffering of the affected communities. In addition to Boane, Moza's solidarity campaigns have also benefited other regions of the country, culminating in the Christmas solidarity lunch that took place last December in the Manjangue community in Chokwe, bringing together a group of the Bank's employees and more than 300 needy children. On the occasion, more than 200 kits of school supplies were donated as a way of encouraging the children not to drop out of school.   Similar initiatives took place in other parts of the country, specifically at the Gondola District Hospital in Manica and at the Criança Esperança Orphanage in Pemba, Cabo Delgado.  

Likewise on the solidarity side, as a bank interested in supporting the most vulnerable social groups, last year Moza employees travelled to Nampula, specifically to the Betel Religious Reception Centre, where they offered wheelchairs to children and elderly people with walking difficulties, to minimise the difficulties they face as a result of the physical condition imposed by their disability.

 And to empower women and girls, the Bank's social arm, Clube Moza, became a member of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), the largest global alliance for the promotion of women's, children's and adolescents' health, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

On the environmental front, the members of Clube Moza carried out various actions in favour of preserving ecosystems, with a particular focus on strengthening vegetation in various critical areas of the country threatened by climate change, especially erosion. The actions were part of the ambitious project called "Vamos Plantar Arvores" (Let's Plant Trees), the main aim of which is to encourage the Bank's employees and other friends and associates to plant one million trees in the most critical areas across the country, thus generating a significant generational impact. Last year the project covered Maputo, specifically the Xefina Islands and the district of Namaacha, and the province of Inhambane, specifically the coastal area of the town of Maxixe, where thousands of saplings were planted in partnership with the local authorities.

In the artistic and literary field, the Bank maximised its partnership with the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation to promote literary meetings and the launch of works by new authors and established writers, contributing to the growth of the national artistic and literary pool. Moza financially sponsored the 5th edition of the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize, funding the printing and launch of the books by the authors who won the prize in the previous edition, as it has done since this partnership was established. Some of these works were launched outside Maputo, reaching readers in various parts of the country, especially in the provinces of Gaza, Sofala and Nampula. Among the authors supported is the renowned Mozambican writer Mia Couto, who recently released his "Compêndio para Desenterrar Nuvens” (“Compendium for Unearthing Clouds"). 

2023 also saw Moza combine education and theatre, with the launch of the play "Saber Sonhar o amanhã" (Knowing How to Dream Tomorrow), in which the nation is invited to reflect on the importance of saving to build a brighter future.  With the launch of the play in question, the Bank began a series of activities aimed at children and young people, with the aim of disseminating educational messages about saving, in various schools in the three regions of the country.

On the sports scene, Moza also made its contribution. Moza sponsored the Maputo City Swimming Association (ANCM), making a series of training programmes possible, the aim of which was to improve the theoretical component of the swimmers, ensuring that they are even more effective in sport. The Bank also sponsored the Mozambican judoka, Jacira Ferreira, making it possible for her to take part in various international tournaments, in particular the Algiers African Open and the Yaonde African Open, continental competitions in which the national representative won 3rd place and consequently recorded a considerable improvement in the world ranking. This year (2024) the Bank will finance the athlete's international tour with the aim of guaranteeing her qualification for the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Also last year, the Bank signed an agreement with Rádio Moçambique, particularly RM Desporto, to support the deployment of a reporting team to accompany and broadcast the participation of the Mozambican national football team, the "Mambas", in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), 2024. 

This year (2024) Moza will further strengthen its investment in social and environmental responsibility actions, believing that through these initiatives the Bank supports projects with a positive impact, using its resources in favour of an increasingly better Mozambique, in which each Mozambican makes change happen.

• The initiative by EIB Global and Moza Banco, as part of the Global Gateway Strategy, will offer financing to small and medium-sized businesses in Mozambique, with a special focus on businesses owned or run by women.
• Women are less likely to be able to access adequate financing for their businesses and the EIB-Moza Banco instrument will bridge this financing gap.
• The project will support economic growth, prosperity and gender equality.

Access to finance for women entrepreneurs in Mozambique will increase thanks to a 10-million-euro loan signed today by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The funding will allow Moza Banco to make available a new 20-million-euro instrument for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The instrument will offer loans with favourable terms, aimed at companies that are owned or led by women, that employ a significant number of women or that offer specific services for women. Funding will be available in various sectors, including manufacturing, transport, agriculture, health and services.

The African continent has one of the highest percentages of female entrepreneurs in the world. In Mozambique, more than three-quarters of the working population derives its livelihood from a small or medium-sized business, and two-thirds of the workers in such businesses are women.

"The economic empowerment of women is essential for a country's development," said Thomas Östros, EIB Vice-President responsible for diversity and inclusion and operations in African countries. "By investing in small businesses run by women in Mozambique, the EIB is helping them to access economic opportunities, create livelihoods and gain financial independence. Investing in these businesses is not only an investment in women, but also in the education and health of their families, as well as in employment. Women's prosperity benefits society and the economy as a whole."

The CEO of Moza Banco, Manuel Soares, said that "Moza Banco firmly believes in the transformative power of financing projects that strengthen the role of women in society, recognising that this not only boosts economic development, but also promotes the financial independence of this important social group. In Mozambique, and also on the continent, we see a growing determination on the part of women to take the lead and become protagonists of their own trajectories. We have a strong desire to boost the potential of these women, creating facilities for obtaining resources and opportunities that not only elevate the position of Mozambican women in the economy, but also foster the construction of a more inclusive and equitable society."

The European Union's ambassador to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, said that "the Global Gateway Strategy in Mozambique aims to encourage public and private investment to generate sustainable growth and jobs for the country's growing youth population. Therefore, one of its priorities is to ensure that SMEs, especially those led by women, have greater access to finance. The European Union has high hopes that, as a result of this financing instrument, the potential of the Mozambican private sector will be fully utilised."

Small businesses are a key driver of economic growth and development, providing goods, services, jobs and income to local communities. To thrive, especially in a context of climate change and an adverse global economy, they need adequate funding. However, statistics show that, worldwide, women are less likely to access the finance they need. The EIB-Moza Banco facility will bridge this financing gap with financial mechanisms and products geared towards the needs of women entrepreneurs.