Moza Specialist Calls for Greater Cooperation Among Smallholder Farmers to Access Financing

Moza Banco’s agribusiness specialist, Danilo Abdula, participated this Monday in Maputo in the launch ceremony of AgriConnect, a World Bank initiative to be implemented in Mozambique in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, aimed at transforming small-scale agriculture and promoting job creation in rural areas.

Invited to join a panel discussion on “Priority actions for the development of agribusiness, job creation, and the improvement of food and nutrition security in Mozambique,” Danilo Abdula addressed the challenges associated with financing smallholder farmers. He emphasised the importance of producers joining cooperatives, which would enable them to become better organised and therefore better positioned to access financing from the banking sector.

“Moza Banco has a strong interest in supporting the development of agribusiness. However, any financing granted must ensure a sustainable return. It is therefore essential that producers understand the importance of being organised so they can benefit from financing opportunities. It is easier to finance a group than dispersed smallholders, as a group is more organised and better able to share both the risks and the benefits associated with such financing,” said Danilo Abdula.

The Moza Banco specialist also encouraged authorities to stimulate and strengthen the agricultural value chain, ensuring that producers do not face difficulties in bringing their products to market.

Despite the various challenges that continue to affect the national agricultural sector—particularly climate-related factors—Moza Banco remains committed to financing agribusiness in Mozambique. The Bank currently offers dedicated financing lines for the sector, notably the BEI Line, established in partnership with the European Investment Bank, and the Food Security Fund (FSA) Line, both offering preferential interest rates.

Moza Banco believes that investment in agribusiness is essential for Mozambicans to collectively advance the country’s development.

A group of volunteers from Moza Banco and partner organisations, led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Manuel Soares, visited Escola Básica 19 de Outubro — the last active Reception Centre in the district of Boane — to comfort more than one thousand victims of the recent floods that struck the southern region of the country. Composed mainly of women and children, the Reception Centre shelters families who, despite having lost almost everything, remain full of hope for a better and more stable future.

During the visit, the team delivered various donations, including non-perishable food items, clothing, and hygiene and cleaning products, in an effort to ease the needs of these families, who continue to depend on all possible assistance.

Moved by the reality on the ground, Moza’s CEO reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to continuing the Solidarity Movement and further strengthening support for flood victims.

“When we look at these families, we realise that solidarity cannot be limited to a single action. Moza is here because it believes that being supportive means walking alongside those who need it most, until hope once again outweighs pain. We are aware of other areas in Maputo Province that still require assistance, particularly Manhiça, Moamba and Magude, and therefore we want the next phase of our Solidarity Movement to also include these regions. We will continue to Make It Happen,” added the CEO.

Representing the supported families, the Director of the Reception Centre, Maria Alcinda Mandlate, highlighted above all the message of hope conveyed to flood victims through the donations associated with the Solidarity Movements, calling for their continuation.

“These families arrived here with virtually nothing. We have mothers and pregnant women who need the help of each and every one of you. Every contribution we receive restores a little dignity and hope. Knowing that we are not alone gives us the strength to continue caring for these people as they deserve,” affirmed the Director.

This initiative forms part of the actions that have been carried out since the onset of the floods, with the Bank having already channelled support to Gaza Province in coordination with local authorities and the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD).

In Gaza, in addition to supporting the central government, Moza directly assisted the districts of Guijá, Mapai, Chigubo and Chicualacuala — areas that were devastated by the force of the floods, resulting in loss of life and significant material damage.

More than simply delivering donations, Moza seeks through these actions to provide comfort to the victims, encouraging them to fight for the reconstruction of their lives.

With a view to supporting communities affected by the floods that have struck several regions of the country, with particular impact on Gaza Province—where thousands of families are facing significant losses and conditions of extreme vulnerability—Moza Bank has launched a Solidarity Movement and has expressed its openness to receiving all possible assistance.

As a bank that is part of the community, Moza shares in the pain experienced by all affected Mozambicans and is therefore mobilising both internal and external efforts to collect and donate funds, non-perishable food, hygiene products and all goods considered essential in this moment of humanitarian emergency.

While collecting goods from its employees and partners across the country, the Bank, in partnership with local and central authorities, has identified four districts in critical condition in Gaza Province—namely Chicualacuala, Chigubo, Guijá and Mapai—which are expected to benefit from the efforts of this resource-mobilisation campaign later this week.

“All our employees are involved in this campaign, and the Bank itself has mobilised funds to acquire various goods and ensure that it also responds to this national call. We will not abandon the Mozambican people at such a sensitive time,” stated the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Moza Bank, Manuel Soares.

Although Gaza is currently the main priority, Moza is not indifferent to the disastrous situation faced by some communities in Maputo Province. Thus, in collaboration with other partners, the Bank is mobilising to gather as many goods and financial resources as possible to ensure that flood victims in Maputo also receive support.

“We want to support, above all, the families who are in the various accommodation centres and who are currently lacking almost everything. We are deeply aware of the situation on the ground, particularly in Boane District, where the overflow of some rivers and water channels has caused flooding that has brought great suffering to families,” added the CEO.

Through this initiative, Moza Bank puts into practice one of its core values—Resilience alongside the people—reaffirming its commitment to communities and to active solidarity as a fundamental principle for expressing empathy and contributing to the gradual restoration of dignity, security and hope for populations affected by the floods.

More than one hundred children from the country’s three regions recently benefited from food products, toys and other goods donated by Moza, as part of initiatives carried out to provide a dignified Christmas for those most in need.

With its epicentre in the southern region of the country, the initiative known as Solidarity Christmas also reached the BETEL Provincial Orphanage in Nampula and the Melanie Orphanage in the city of Beira.

In the south, the Bank visited two health facilities, namely the Quissico Rural Hospital in Inhambane and the Matola Provincial Hospital, which served as the main venue for the Solidarity Christmas celebrations.

In Matola, more than 70 children admitted to the paediatric ward of that health unit for various medical conditions enjoyed a special morning, receiving toys and food products and socialising with Bank employees during a snack prepared for the occasion.

At the same event, Moza Banco Executive Committee Member Jaime Joaquim explained the meaning of Solidarity Christmas for the Moza family, stressing that “above all, it is a time for sharing, hope and love. It is these small gestures that help us build a great Christmas, one that is more humane and more supportive.”

On behalf of the children, parents and Matola Provincial Hospital as a whole, the Director of the health unit, Ana Rodrigues, stated that “Moza’s initiative goes far beyond the delivery of gifts, symbolising closeness, empathy and a commitment to the well-being of the population.” She also highlighted the need to strengthen inter-institutional partnerships between the health sector and the private sector, with a view to promoting a fairer and more supportive society.

For the Moza family, it is only through gestures of solidarity and love for one’s neighbour that it is possible to celebrate a harmonious and joyful festive season, enabling Mozambicans to Win Together, even in times when obstacles seem to undermine the achievement of individual and collective goals.

Moza Banco has expressed its willingness to work with the State and other financial institutions in order to enable the implementation of strategies that foster innovation, inclusion and broader access to banking services in Mozambique.

This position was publicly reaffirmed on Wednesday in Maputo at the BFSI Conference – Mozambique Banking, Financial and Insurance, held this year under the theme Digital Transformation and an Interoperable Financial Ecosystem.

Invited to take part in the panel entitled “The Role of Electronic Wallets, Payment Platforms, Insurance, Pension Funds and Digital Credit Instruments in Strengthening Economic Inclusion and Reducing Informality”, Stélio Matias, Director of Information Technology Systems at Moza Bank, emphasised the importance of bringing together sector-wide synergies that enable not only process simplification, but above all the ongoing security of customers.

“At a time when rapid technological growth is shaping future dynamics, significantly influenced by the advent of artificial intelligence, Moza Banco views the financial sector as one of those most in need of innovation, particularly due to its sensitivity and the need for continuous protection of customer data,” said Matias.

On the same occasion, the speaker highlighted the steps the Bank has been taking in terms of innovation, notably improvements to its processes and operating systems, with a view to ensuring that customers have increasingly efficient services available to meet their needs.

As one of the country’s five largest banks, with one of the widest branch networks nationwide, Moza continues to consolidate its contribution to the market at various levels, particularly in terms of growth in customer numbers, transactions and innovations.

By opening its doors to work with public and private partners, including competing entities, the Bank believes this will further benefit Mozambicans, ensuring that the country has banking services of excellence that are internationally competitive.

Three children from Santa Luísa de Marilac School, in Chókwè district, Gaza province, saw their talent recognised and rewarded through a writing competition promoted by the Non-Governmental Organisation Um Pequeno Gesto (UPG), with the support of Moza Banco. The initiative aimed to encourage the development of writing and critical thinking skills from an early age.

Created under the motto “Knowing How to Dream of Tomorrow”, the competition challenged children to produce texts on the importance of saving — not only money, but also finite resources such as water, energy and paper — in line with the recent celebration of World Savings Day.

With more than 50 texts submitted, the podium was entirely composed of girls whose work conveyed the message of the competition in an exemplary manner: Dinalva Chaúque, Edvânia Mutisse and Clarência Novela, who won first, second and third place respectively.

More than the monetary prize, the three pupils succeeded, through their writings, in inspiring the entire school community, conveying messages of hope and confidence in a better future.

According to Sara Barreto, President and Founder of UPG, “the children showed great interest in issues related to saving and valuing resources. We want them to learn, from a young age, that saving is believing in a better future. This competition is a way of inspiring them to dream and to turn those dreams into great achievements.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Executive Commission (PCE) of Moza Banco stressed that the initiative forms part of the “Knowing How to Dream of Tomorrow” project, through which the Bank promotes educational and artistic activities focused on saving and sustainability, complemented by support actions for school-age children.

“The project began last year with the creation of a children’s theatre play that is being presented throughout the country. At the same time, we have been donating school supplies to ensure that children do not give up studying due to a lack of resources. We have already delivered more than 1,500 kits across the country’s three regions, and we want to continue Making It Happen, reaching more and more Mozambican communities,” explained the PCE.

Founded in 2004, UPG has supported several communities in Gaza province, promoting the improvement of living conditions for children and families. Since 2019, the project has benefited from the support of Moza Banco, impacting more than one thousand children.

The 19 de Outubro Primary School, located in the Estevel community in the Boane municipality, was recently included in the Saber Sonhar o Amanhã (“Dream Tomorrow”) project, implemented by Moza Banco since last year. Hundreds of underprivileged children benefited from a variety of school supplies donated by the bank, aimed at fostering their interest in education despite the various social and economic obstacles that hinder their continued schooling.

The initiative was carried out as part of the World Savings Day celebrations, which took place on 31 October.

During its visit to the Estevel community, the bank delivered a talk on money and the importance of saving, ensuring that children develop a basic understanding of financial concepts from an early age. The activity included interactive moments and prizes for the students who best answered questions on the topic.

According to Jaime Joaquim, Member of the Executive Committee of Moza Banco, combining the donation of school kits with the introduction of basic financial education concepts to young children helps foster a mindset of prosperity that can serve as a foundation for a better future.

“As a bank that is part of the community, we also want to be part of the solution. Last year alone, we donated over a thousand school kits to primary schools and centres supporting vulnerable people in the central and northern regions of the country, while also delivering talks on financial education and saving. Our primary goal is for these children to ‘Dream Tomorrow’. The feedback we have received confirms that our project is making a real impact. For this reason, we will continue to invest in this initiative,” stated Jaime Joaquim.

The Headteacher of 19 de Outubro Primary School, Maria Alcinda Mandlate, praised Moza Banco’s initiative, saying, “It comes at a crucial moment and serves to motivate our students further. Our children already show an understanding of what it means to save, which is an enormous gain,” she added.

For Moza Banco, this represented yet another institutional opportunity to emphasise a sense of belonging, support those in greatest need, and promote equal opportunities in Mozambique. The bank assures that it will continue to Make Things Happen through initiatives that contribute to building an ever-better society.

Moza Banco presents financing opportunities to over 100 Mozambican entrepreneurs. Moza Banco recently participated in the Entrepreneur Forum held in Maputo, an event that brought together public and private sector entities with the aim of discussing opportunities and challenges related to the emerging business landscape in Mozambique.

During the event, the Bank addressed more than a hundred young entrepreneurs interested in strengthening their knowledge about financing methodologies within the national banking system, with a particular focus on subsidised credit lines designed to support business growth.

Representing Moza, Amâncio Zita presented the range of financing solutions available for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Bank, highlighting credit lines specifically aimed at the agribusiness sector. Special emphasis was placed on the FECOP - Portuguese Cooperation Business Fund, FIDA - International Fund for Agricultural Development, and FSA - Food Security Fund.

The FSA, in particular, is targeted at small entrepreneurs, individuals and companies within the agribusiness sector, supporting key needs across the value chain. This includes the production of crops contributing to food security, marketing activities, storage and processing of agricultural products, animal production, and the provision of support services to the agricultural sector. For individuals, financing amounts range from MZN 240,000 to MZN 2,500,000, while companies can access funding from a minimum of MZN 1,500,000 up to MZN 30,000,000. Interest rates do not exceed 14%, with repayment terms varying between 6 and 60 months.

In addition to presenting opportunities developed internally by the Bank, Moza also highlighted other financing lines offered in partnership with external entities, notably the Public Fund for Agricultural Development and Rural Extension, which targets the southern and central regions of the country.

There was also an opportunity to present the EIB Line, through which Moza provides €10 million from the European Investment Bank at subsidised rates, primarily to finance projects promoting gender equity, with a focus on women-led initiatives.

Specifically, the EIB Line offers treasury and investment support products, with financing amounts ranging from MZN 200,000 to MZN 5,000,000. Associated interest rates do not exceed 15% and may vary depending on the amount, duration, or client profile.

The financing lines available at Moza can be accessed at any of the Bank’s branches. Interested parties are encouraged to visit their nearest branch to obtain all the necessary information for their loan applications.

Organised by Anita Corporation under the “Emerging Enterprise” programme, the forum brought together both public and private institutions, including the Mozambican Tax Authority, the National Institute of Social Security, and the Mozambique Stock Exchange.

With this strategic participation, Moza once again reaffirms its commitment to supporting national entrepreneurship, Making It Happen by financing business projects that foster the country’s development.