Maputo, Sept. 21, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique will set up a Fund for the Economic Empowerment of Women (PRO-MULHER) to provide low-interest loans to support women-led small businesses, prioritising criteria such as poverty, the female population and financial inclusion.
Cabinet Resolution No. 71/2026, issued this month and accessed by Lusa today, outlines the creation of PRO-MULHER. The resolution justifies the measure by the need to «promote inclusive economic growth and the economic empowerment of Mozambican women through the financing of micro and small businesses» at the district and local authority level.
According to the fund's regulations, PRO-MULHER aims to promote women's economic empowerment by financing small businesses capable of generating income, production and employment, whilst simultaneously «promoting poverty reduction and inclusive economic development».
The scheme will now finance projects deemed economically viable through repayable loans with a «subsidised interest rate». Support may be granted on an individual or collective basis, including to associations, cooperatives, women's groups or micro and small enterprises led by women.
Although the legislation has yet to specify the launch figures, it also provides for the formation of solidarity groups comprising between three and seven women, «preferably with geographical proximity, economic affinity or an associative or residential link», as a way to access funding.
The fund will allocate resources based on four main criteria: female population, geographical area, poverty rate, and repayment capacity. The fund will apply the repayment-capacity criterion only from its second year onwards.
PRO-MULHER will prioritise local women entrepreneurs interested in developing economic activities that generate income and employment. Eligible beneficiaries include women who already own small businesses, low-income women involved in micro-enterprises, women's cooperatives and associations, entrepreneurs in the informal sector who wish to expand or formalise their activities, and women who wish to start new businesses.
The decree sets out a comprehensive list of activities eligible for funding, such as food production and marketing, catering, pastry-making, baking, retail trade, agriculture, horticulture, the production of cereals and pulses, agro-processing and the processing of agricultural products.
The programme also supports projects related to poultry farming, poultry rearing and egg production, small-scale fishing and fish marketing, beekeeping and honey production, clothing manufacture, embroidery and textiles, as well as pottery, ceramics, basketry, costume jewellery and other locally manufactured products.
The regulations also cover initiatives linked to the beauty and wellbeing sector, such as hairdressing, make-up, manicures, pedicures and related services, as well as cultural and creative activities, including artistic production, design, fashion, visual arts, crafts, photography and content production. It also covers small-scale repair and maintenance of various types of equipment, as well as other economically viable initiatives that contribute to income generation, self-employment and the economic inclusion of women.
Organisations specialising in technical assistance and capacity-building will provide applicants with free technical support to develop their projects.
Payments and repayments may be made via mobile wallets, bank transfers, digital financial applications and other legally permitted electronic means.
PRO-MULHER's funding sources include allocations from the State Budget, resources from public bodies, loan repayments and the corresponding interest, funding from cooperation partners, support from philanthropic institutions, corporate social responsibility funds, and donations from the private sector and civil society.
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