Child Poverty in Mozambique. A Situation and Trend ... - Unicef
Child Poverty in Mozambique. A Situation and Trend ... - Unicef
Child Poverty in Mozambique. A Situation and Trend ... - Unicef
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The M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education <strong>and</strong> Culture, the M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>and</strong> the M<strong>in</strong>istry<br />
of State Adm<strong>in</strong>istration (MAE) each have different teacher numbers figures. A<br />
reconciliation exercise is currently underway to address this situation.<br />
Address<strong>in</strong>g these issues has necessitated a change <strong>in</strong> the structure <strong>and</strong> emphasis<br />
of external assistance. Aid to education has historically been channelled <strong>in</strong>to discrete<br />
capital <strong>in</strong>vestment projects, as opposed to recurrent budget activities, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> particular<br />
teachers’ salaries. This is now chang<strong>in</strong>g. As has happened <strong>in</strong> the health sector, sector<br />
budget support through the sector common fund (FASE) has <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly come to<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ance programmes of a nature usually f<strong>in</strong>anced by the current budget. The FASE is<br />
an ever more important channel for donor activities <strong>in</strong> the sector, f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g the Direct<br />
Support to Schools programme (ADE), low-cost school construction, book distribution<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>-service teacher tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g (CRESCER) (GoM <strong>and</strong> PAP, 2005). Figure 4.22 shows<br />
total FASE donor commitments from 2003 to 2009. Fund<strong>in</strong>g is set to <strong>in</strong>crease by an<br />
average of US$10.6 million per annum over the period if commitments are delivered.<br />
This will help to ensure that the ratio of current spend<strong>in</strong>g on goods <strong>and</strong> services to<br />
spend<strong>in</strong>g on salaries is ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed at a reasonable level. The second Education <strong>and</strong><br />
Culture Strategic Plan targets 33 per cent <strong>in</strong> 2009. Us<strong>in</strong>g FASE funds to pay teacher’s<br />
salaries is not an option, as salaries must be met through the current budget.<br />
Figure 4.22: Common fund (FASE) donor commitments, 2003 – 2009<br />
80<br />
70.8<br />
.Million US$<br />
60<br />
55.7<br />
61.2<br />
40<br />
40.1<br />
20<br />
24.2<br />
28.1<br />
0<br />
7.3<br />
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009<br />
Source: MEC<br />
On the f<strong>in</strong>ancial resources side, recruitment needs therefore dem<strong>and</strong> an <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
<strong>in</strong> the level of government-wide General Budget Support (GBS) coupled with<br />
an agreement between the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Development, the M<strong>in</strong>istry<br />
of F<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>and</strong> the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education <strong>and</strong> Culture on accompany<strong>in</strong>g teacher<br />
recruitment <strong>and</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g targets with<strong>in</strong> the sector. Moreover, efforts to br<strong>in</strong>g more<br />
sector fund<strong>in</strong>g on-budget will <strong>in</strong>crease the <strong>in</strong>formation available to the M<strong>in</strong>istry<br />
of Plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Development <strong>and</strong> the M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance regard<strong>in</strong>g total public<br />
resources <strong>in</strong> the sector, <strong>and</strong> should therefore be accompanied by clear targets <strong>and</strong><br />
dialogue between these central agencies <strong>and</strong> the sector about recurrent resource<br />
requirements to avoid stagnation or reductions <strong>in</strong> the “<strong>in</strong>ternal” component.<br />
168 CHILDHOOD POVERTY IN MOZAMBIQUE: A SITUATION AND TRENDS ANALYSIS