Purpose
This timeline offers a historical overview of the general bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and Mozambique. It was developed alongside a timeline focused on water relations between the two countries. Over time, this general timeline is expected to expand, with future additions covering sectors like irrigation, education, and health.
The timelines are designed for use on the website but are also available as downloadable PDFs in English [LINK] and Portuguese (coming soon) [LINK]. Please note that the website is regularly updated, while the PDF versions may reflect earlier versions.
Overview
The general Mozambique timeline highlights 50 years of cooperation between Mozambique and the Netherlands, dating back to 1975. To provide a broader context, the timeline also briefly covers Mozambique's history and its present-day characteristics, including key moments when the Dutch were involved in the country’s development—such as their support for the Frelimo liberation front during the independence war.
Since Mozambique gained independence in 1975, cooperation with the Netherlands has been active. Initially, the cooperation covered a wide range of topics. But in the last decade, it has narrowed to focus on water, food, energy, and trade. At times, new Dutch aid modalities were tested in Mozambique. The long-standing nature of this partnership makes the timeline a valuable resource for researchers, who can find over 100 references for further study.
How to use the NICC Timelines
The NICC timelines are organized by themes (e.g., water, gender, education, food, and agriculture) and countries. On the NICC website, you’ll find an overview of the various timelines available, as well as a video gallery featuring interviews with experts in international cooperation. There’s also a search engine for the NICC collection, which includes both physical and digital resources.
Disclaimer
The timelines are intended to provide context for past developments and the current situation. They aim to explain how cooperation has evolved and highlight particularities from the Dutch perspective. However, the descriptions may be biased and primarily reflect a donor or Dutch viewpoint. We had to be concise, focusing on a few key elements within each theme.
While NICC has gathered substantial information, the timelines are a work in progress and may need updates or corrections. If you have suggestions or additional information, please contact NICC at info@stichtingnicc.nl.
Main Author
The main author of the timeline is Dick Bouman (see his blogs: Mozambique1 and Mozambique2). He was a co-evaluator for the first bilateral water project in Mozambique, as well as for several more recent projects. Dick worked for the Mozambican National Directorate for Water (DNA) in the mid-1980s, where he contributed to the Hydrogeological Map of Mozambique (South and North map sheets).
Acknowledgements
Several individuals provided valuable feedback on the original timeline. In-depth input was given by André Arsenio (Portuguese consultant), Vitens Evides International (Toine Ramakers, Joep Vonk, and Germain Bakker), Chris Büscher (researcher), Hans Schoolkate (former DGIS employee in Rural Water), Hans van den Hoogen (historian and former EMS cooperant), Huub Savenije (Professor in Water Resources at TU Delft), and Ivo van Haren (Water Specialist at the Netherlands Embassy in Maputo). Additionally, interviews were conducted with Ton Negenman (former DGIS assistant expert and Embassy staff member) and specific checks were made with Kees Sluijs (RHDHV drainage projects in Maputo) and Fred van der Kraaij (former MoFA). Unfortunately, feedback from Mozambican reviewers was not received.
Resources
This timeline was created by the NICC Foundation, utilizing many resources, some of which are part of the NICC Collection. Where possible, links to these resources are included in the text.
A key resource for this timeline and the Mozambique water timeline is Chris Büscher’s 2021 dissertation. His study, which examines the Dutch Aid and Trade policy in Mozambique’s water sector, serves as a comprehensive reference covering 45 years of bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on water.
Original version 20/12/2024 D. Bouman
