IUC with Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique)

The Terms of Reference requested the Evaluation Commission (EC) to carry out a mid-term review of VLIR-UOS cooperation programme DESAFIO with the Eduardo Mondlane University that would generate conclusions allowing VLIR-UOS: 1. to make a decision regarding the formulation of a second phase of the collaboration; 2. to formulate recommendations to all stakeholders with regard to the content and the management of the programme, including the overall policy framework and 3. to identify possible venues for the future of the programme and to comment upon them. For the realization of this assignment the EC analyzed EC programme documents, interviewed VLIRUOS staff and the Flemish Programme Coordinator and Project Leaders (PL) in Brussels and Gent and, during a field trip in Maputo key persons of UEM management, the Mozambican PC and PLs, students, the PSU manager and the Permanent Expert in Maputo. 

The DESAFIO (Challenge) programme has as its overall academic objective “To strengthen the UEM as a developmental actor in Mozambican society in the area of Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS” and as its developmental objective “To improve reproductive health in society and to contribute to the national fight against HIV/AIDS”. 

The programme envisages contributing to the realization of these objectives through 7 specific projects each of them embedded in a faculty at the UEM. The programme is being implemented through a joint undertaking of UEM staff and academic staff of different Flemish universities. An eighth project provides support services to the cluster of projects.