Programme partners share IGM research results in scientific conference on COVID-19

On 16-17 June 2021, Enilde Francisco Sarmento, National Director of Economic and Development Policies at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Fernando Lichucha, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), both representatives of the implementing partner institutions of the Inclusive growth in Mozambique (IGM) programme, participated in the second Scientific Conference on COVID-19 presenting results of recent studies carried out under the IGM programme.

Speaking at the first panel entitled ‘First year of COVID-19 in Mozambique: Socioeconomic dynamics and implications’ on 16 June, Enilde Sarmento shared results of an IGM study on the macroeconomic impact of COVID-19 in Mozambique — ‘The macroeconomic impact of COVID-19 in Mozambique: a social accounting matrix approach’ highlighting, in particular, those referring to the negative effects of COVID-19 in the urban areas of the country.

Fernando Lichucha was invited to speak in the panel on ‘Looking ahead to the post-COVID-19 era: Transformations and continuities’ on 17 June. In his contribution, entitled ‘The new normal: implications for economy and labour’, Lichucha reminded that the Mozambican economy was already under a lot of pressure before the pandemic. Referring to several studies carried out under the IGM programme, he described how COVID-19 has aggravated the situation in various sectors of the economy and in particular the labour market.

The second national Scientific Conference on COVID-19 was organized by the National Institute of Health of Mozambique (INS) in partnership with Televisão de Moçambique (TVM), Rádio Moçambique, Sociedade de Notícias, Tmcel and Mídia Lab. The event focused on the topics of prevention and vaccination, and offered an opportunity to disseminate research results on the COVID-19 situation in Mozambique.