About
UNU-WIDER Exhibition at the LDC5 Conference 5-9 March 2023

The Inclusive growth in Mozambique programme is a partnership through which UNU-WIDER supports and develops the capacities of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Mozambique in producing high-quality government-led poverty and inequality analysis. Today, the Government of Mozambique uses the jointly calculated multidimensional poverty index as a budgeting criterion at the province level.

‘The studies help us identify the biggest deprivations in different provinces and districts, and, from there, guide policies and better allocate resources.’
Enilde Sarmento, Director, National Directorate of Economic and Development Policies, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Mozambique

Every year, around 500,000 young Mozambicans strive to enter the labour market. Two surveys produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Mozambique investigating the transition into the world of work by university, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates show that the Mozambican economy has difficulties in absorbing its most qualified labour force.

'The two reports are widely used by government institutions. They allowed us to identify the problems that our youth face in entering the job market and help us in improving our interventions.’
Assa Guambe, Director, National Directorate for Labour Market Observation, Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Mozambique

Which tax policies work best to generate revenues needed for poverty reduction? Are existing social security arrangements effective in cushioning against crises?

UNU-WIDER’s SOUTHMOD programme works in six LDC countries — Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia — to strengthen capacities in tailored microeconomic analysis and policy formulation.

‘The policy analyses conducted with UGAMOD model have not only been used by revenue authorities but have also informed decision-making in Uganda.’
Ronald Waiswa, Supervisor, Research and Policy Analysis, Uganda Revenue Authority

In Tanzania, UNU-WIDER has, in collaboration with UONGOZI Institute, produced a significant body of research on sustainable development in the country. 50% of the authors of the studies were local early career researchers.

Research findings reveal, e.g., that in Tanzania gender gaps in labour participation have declined, that Tanzania should aim to negotiate new arrangements within regional trade agreements to boost growth, and that the East African Community (EAC) is yet to unlock its potential.

Stay tuned for an upcoming book volume!

Bangladesh

COVID-19 resulted in 25% greater declines in earnings and fourfold greater prevalence of food insecurity among migrant households in Bangladesh, compared to others. Successful health policy must thus directly address migrant wellbeing. Read more

Burkina Faso

Food for Education (FFE) programmes have been implemented in developing countries since the 1960s. In Burkina Faso the impact of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) school feeding programme in the north of the country was assessed. The results show that take-home rations (THRs) improved school attendance for both boys and girls and increased girls’ enrolment within schools. Read more

Ethiopia

A study assessing the impact of trade liberalization on employment and gender in Ethiopia shows that the districts that were more exposed to trade liberalization, through import tariff reductions, experienced a stronger reduction in employment levels compared with districts less exposed to international competition, especially in female employment. The study also shows that reductions in (agricultural) input tariffs triggers a process of sectoral reallocation from agriculture to services and that this process is particularly pronounced for women. This in turns contributes to increase sectoral segregation. Read more

Mozambique

Mozambique is among the world’s least complex economies. A study systematically accounting for both supply- and demand-side factors identified new products and sectors that can help to diversify and upgrade its economy. The broad sectoral focus of Mozambique’s industrial policy is largely consistent with structural transformation and export promotion. The current prioritization of agriculture, agro-industry, and metals is especially important, while there are unexploited opportunities in machinery, vehicles, and transport equipment. The study finds potential for Mozambique to export target products to neighbouring countries. Read more

Niger

Farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are heavily reliant on rainfall, so that farmers’ livelihoods are endangered in the event of weather shocks. A study exploring the relationship between weather shocks and the intensity of agricultural inputs in three SSA countries (Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania) showed that when the farmers face drought soon after planting, especially in tropical areas where the incidence of pests is high, they will increase investment in loss-reducing inputs (including pesticides) and reduce yield-enhancing investment (including chemical fertilizer). These effects show that there is a need to provide effective climate change risk-coping strategies for farmers, such as introduction of improved crop disease and drought resistance technologies, and accurate weather forecasts via mobile phones messages, radio, or television. Read more

Tanzania

Tanzania has expanded its social protection framework significantly, but the country continues to grapple with important gender inequalities. Our simulation findings indicate that introducing child grants allocated to the main caregiver has great potential to promote women’s empowerment and the achievement of SDGs in Tanzania. Read more

Uganda

A study examining the simplifying of tax procedures in Uganda found that so called One-stop-shops — where citizens could register for several authorities at the same visit and receive information — increased the number of taxpayers by approximately 70%. The taxpayer register expansion project (TREP) was also highly cost-effective. Read more

Zambia

The Emergency Social Cash Transfer programme in Zambia stood out as one of the most effective measures in reaching the poorest in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme was built to complement an existing social protection framework. Read more