Akila MUNIR | 19/02/2019
Her Majesty the
Queen's role as an SDG Ambassador
Since the adoption of the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, a group of 17 eminent Ambassadors were
appointed to promote action to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The SDGs represent a
commitment by all nations to work together in enduring partnerships to end
poverty and hunger, protect the planet, achieve shared prosperity and ensure
peace for present and future generations.
In early February, Queen Mathilde of Belgium in her capacity
as Ambassador of the United Nations’ SDGs, paid a three-day working visit to
Mozambique. This is the Queen’s first official visit to the Sub-Saharan country
since Mozambique became a partner country of Belgium in 2001. Recently, her
Majesty also visited Ghana in 2016 in her capacity as SDG Advocate.
Queen Mathilde engaged with local communities and encouraged
initiatives that have a positive impact on the everyday lives of the local
population. Her visits had a focus on projects that promote economic
empowerment of women, combat violence against women and promote improved
education and health in the country. Her Majesty’s agenda also included
projects that combat climate change in Mozambique, one of which is Enabel’s
project of “Water Supply and Management contributing to Food Security in Gaza
Province” (also known as Water Gaza).
Outline of Her
Majesty the Queen’s Visit
Between the 4th and the 7th of February 2019, Her Majesty’s
visit covered Maputo province and capital city and Gaza province, where several
Belgian funded interventions are located.
On the first day of the visit, her Majesty met the Minister
of Finance and Economy, H.E. A. Maleiane as well as the Minister of Gender,
Children and Social Action, H.E. C. Chaúque Oliveira, followed by greeting the
beneficiaries of the Light for the World NGO and a visit to the Socio-Cultural
association Horizonte Azul, which focuses on human rights, gender equality and
empowerment of vulnerable children and women.
Upon the Queen’s arrival in Gaza Province, the Governor hosted a dinner
to welcome Her Majesty and to discuss what the different Belgian funded
projects have accomplished in the province.
On day 2, Queen Mathilde visited several projects in the
Gaza Province, including the Enabel Water Gaza Project in the local village of
Dzindzine, a UN Women Empowerment project funded by Belgium in Chinhacanine,
and finally a district hospital in Chokwe where she addressed mental health
issues. Upon returning to Maputo, Queen Mathilde had a meeting with victims of
domestic violence and child marriages.
On day 3 of the visit, Queen Mathilde of Belgium met with
H.E. President Nyusi of Mozambique had a meeting, and later delivered a lecture
on “Sustainable Development Goals Towards A Better Future” at Eduardo Mondlane
University. Her Majesty addressed students, professors, public and private
institutions “to grasp every opportunity to work together on this ambitious
development agenda for the future.” Queen Mathilde then visited the National
Disaster Management Institute to observe how the use of technology improved
national disaster risk management systems. Her Majesty ended her visit with a
trip to a local health centre in the district of Marracuene, Maputo province,
which provides accessible care to over 23,000 people.
Desalination water
supply plant in Dzindzine
Her Majesty’s trip included a visit to one of the six water
supply systems in small village of Dzindzine in Gaza Province, which forms part
of the Enabel Water Gaza Project. The infrastructure consists of water
desalination systems using photo-voltaic energy without the use of batteries.
In the village of Dzindzine, a three-kilometer long network of water
distribution pipes was installed alongside a public fountain station with six
taps as well as 22 individual household taps. This significantly reduces the
distance and time taken to access drinkable water and allows the local
population – especially women and children - to lead more productive lives. The
water supply plant became operational in September 2018 and has increased
access to safe and affordable drinking water to over 1,100 beneficiaries, while
promoting the use of renewable energy for sustainable development.
Enabel’s efforts in achieving several SDGs across the globe
can be evidenced through its many interventions, one of them being the Water
Gaza project in Mozambique, whose widespread impact of reaching 57,000 people
was only made possible due to enduring partnerships and unity towards a common
goal. This project contributed to the achievement of SDG 6 by
improving access to clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 as renewable energy is
used to power the desalination unit, SDG 3 of improved healthcare as water is
now safe to drink, promotes better sanitation and is essential to living a
healthy life, SDG 5 because women can spend more time on education and income
generating activities, SDG 2 as water is essential to ensure farming activities
and food security, and ultimately combat the challenges of climate change (SDG
13).
Enabel aims to build a sustainable world where women and men
live under the rule of law and are free to thrive. As Queen Mathilde of Belgium
stated, “Agenda 2030 is based on solidarity. Solidarity between countries and
regions, cities and rural areas.”
Lire la suite
Mozambique MOZ1102411