Mozambique

Women, particularly in Cabo Delgado, are at enormous risk of violence, kidnapping, displacement, and food insecurity. Those who have been abducted into sexual slavery or forced marriage by armed groups–and their children–face significant barriers to reintegration, including social stigma, displacement and minimal support services. Up to 98 percent of those impacted by gender-based violence are women and girls, with more than 40 percent of reported cases involving forced marriages. The conflict has perpetuated a literacy crisis in Cabo Delgado, with an estimated three-quarters of women in the region unable to read or write. Despite these challenges, women have established protection networks and community centers to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Furthermore, Mozambique has made progress toward gender parity in politics despite electoral tensions, with women representing 53 percent of registered voters in the 2024 general election. 

As the insurgency persists and climate shocks threaten to further destabilize the country, advancing gender equality will be met with significant challenges—especially given decreased US funding for the humanitarian needs of women and girls. Elements of political unrest may further complicate the government’s ability to address these issues effectively. However, women continue to plug gaps in service provision in conflict-affected areas. Female peace sentinels, for instance, have created more than 55 safe spaces for women across nine districts. As stabilization efforts continue, ensuring women’s meaningful participation in recovery planning is crucial.

Violence surged across Cabo Delgado in late October and early November 2025, with insurgent attacks recorded in Macomia and Mocímboa da Praia districts. Women and girls face heightened risks of abduction, sexual violence, and coercion—particularly while fleeing or collecting water and firewood. Between September and October 2025, more than 90,000 people were newly displaced, further increasing women’s exposure to gender-based violence (GBV) and sharply reducing access to critical services.

As of late October, Mozambique’s 2025 humanitarian response plan is only 14 percent funded. Funding cuts have left displaced women without adequate sanitation, menstrual supplies, and safe shelter—conditions that heighten risks of disease transmission, sexual violence, and exploitation. Over one-quarter of humanitarian organizations have been forced to reduce activities dedicated to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, while up to 75 percent of GBV services have been halted.

Food insecurity continues to deepen, with 2.6 million people projected to face crisis levels of hunger between October 2025 and March 2026. Women—who make up 87.3 percent of the agricultural labor force—are among the hardest hit, as conflict, displacement, and climate shocks continue to erode livelihoods and access to food. For women and girls, worsening shortages translate into heightened caregiving burdens, stress, and health risks, as many families have only one meal a day, often limited to rice and beans. Malnutrition is expected to rise, particularly among pregnant and lactating women, while reliance on humanitarian food assistance leaves women increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

Insecurity and displacement have pushed Mozambique’s health system to near collapse, with over half of facilities in Cabo Delgado rendered non-functional due to attacks, looting, and staff flight. Key hospitals are operating with less than 10 percent of personnel, forcing the suspension of thousands of consultations weekly. This collapse leaves women unable to access maternal and reproductive healthcare and heightens exposure to preventable disease. Ongoing cholera transmission and mpox cases compound the strain and disproportionately impact women.

The government’s suspension of all mining in Manica province offers a chance to address gendered harms from unregulated extractive activity. Restoring polluted rivers and ecosystems could reduce women’s exposure to contaminated water. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened cases on pollution, deforestation, and child labor—momentum that could be leveraged to strengthen oversight of mining operations and protect women workers. Given reports of discrimination and sexual harassment in informal mining economies across Mozambique, integrating gender-sensitive monitoring and women’s participation in enforcement and environmental restoration will be critical.

The newly launched She Leads Peace initiative (2025 – 2027) will support women and girls in Mozambique’s conflict-affected provinces with leadership training, legal and psychosocial support, and economic grants, enabling them to play a central role in community recovery and resilience. This effort, supported by Norway and UN Women, offers pathways to strengthen women’s voices in peace, governance, and economic settings.