The Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN) convened the first Northern Regional Forum in Nampula on Wednesday, November 11, bringing together provincial leadership and international stakeholders to align development priorities. According to Club of Mozambique, the event was chaired by Nampula Province Governor Eduardo Mariamo Abdula, with participation from the governors of Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces. Representatives from the World Bank, the United Nations, private sector entities, and civil society also attended the gathering to strengthen regional coordination.
Governor Abdula outlined an integrated development strategy centered on agriculture, infrastructure, industry, and tourism as primary drivers for economic growth and employment. He proposed the creation of a Regional Development Fund, which would be financed by mining revenues and supported by the World Bank, operating under ADIN’s coordination to ensure sustainable funding for the region's priorities. The governors of the three northern provinces presented key initiatives, emphasizing road construction, logistics connectivity, agricultural processing, water supply, health services, and vocational training.
ADIN’s Executive Commission Chairperson, Jacinto Loureiro, contextualized the forum within the Northern Mozambique Integrated Resilience and Development Programme (PREDIN), reaffirming the agency's role in technical coordination across the provinces. During the session, ADIN unveiled a portfolio of nine projects with estimated investments totaling US$400 million. These initiatives cover reconstruction, socio-economic development, and infrastructure, including the Conecta Negócios and Paved Roads Construction and Maintenance projects. A significant portion of this funding, US$250 million, is provided by the World Bank for the MozCommunity initiative.
Fily Sissoko, the World Bank Division Director for Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles, urged greater integration of investments and increased private-sector participation. He emphasized that youth employment must remain central to project implementation. The United Nations also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government priorities, focusing on coordinating humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding efforts. This coordination is essential for preparations regarding the Northern Integrated Development Strategic Plan (PEDIN 2028–2038).
The forum concluded with a reaffirmation of the need for ADIN-led coordination to transform identified priorities into concrete projects. Participants stressed that defined financing, deadlines, and responsibilities are critical to accelerating the integrated development of Cabo Delgado, Niassa, and Nampula. The event highlighted the collaborative framework required to address the region's complex developmental challenges through structured, funded interventions.