Contribution of the Strategic Program for the Reduction of Urban Poverty

Mozambique has shown impressive economic growth and a declining poverty rate over the last 20 years, but 46% of the population still lives in poverty. The unequal availability of basic services, especially in health and education, and the obstacles to sustainable employment are at the root of this economic disparity. Social policies focused on combating poverty have therefore been adopted with the aim of reducing this evil. It is within the framework of these efforts that in the 2011 financial year, the government allocated 140 million Meticais to PERPU, covering municipalities and provincial capital cities. This study focuses on the Strategic Program for the Reduction of Urban Poverty (PERPU), with the general aim of understanding its contribution to improving the living conditions of mayors living in Quelimane. However, it is clear that the situation of poverty in the communities does not seem to have been resolved, given the high levels of deprivation that certain urban families have been experiencing (not having access to basic quality public services and not being able to satisfy them by other means due to lack of financial capacity).