• • • • development and the eradication of poverty; Strengthening policies, delivery mechanisms and outputs in key social development areas (including education for all and combating HIV/Aids and other communicable diseases); Ensuring affordable access to water, energy, finance (including microfinance), markets, and information and communication technology (ICT) to all citizens, especially the rural poor; Ensuring progress towards gender equality, particularly equal access to education for girls at all levels; and, Encouraging broad-based participation in development by all stakeholders at all levels. 1.6 Implementation of the APRM Process in Mozambique 37. Mozambique was one of the pioneer countries that acceded to the APRM in March 2003 and the country immediately began the task of operationalising and institutionalising the APRM process in the country. 38. In August 2004, an advance CRM fielded to Mozambique cautioned against proceeding with the process because of the impending elections at the time. The process was put on hold until after the presidential and parliamentary elections of 1–2 December 2004, and the swearing-in of the President-Elect, His Excellency Armando Guebuza, on 2 February 2005. 39. The APRM process in Mozambique was resuscitated in August 2005 when the Council of Ministers appointed His Excellency, Dr Aiuba Cuereneia, Minister of Planning and Development, as APRM Focal Point in Mozambique, with the responsibility of coordinating the process. The Council of Ministers also constituted the National APRM Forum on 3 July 2006, tasking it with leading and creating the necessary structures for the operationalisation of the APRM process in the country; monitoring and following up its implementation; and ensuring the inclusive participation of all national citizens in the APRM in an independent, professional and credible manner. 40. The National APRM Forum, which was formally inaugurated on 7 August 2006, is made up of 59 members representing the following stakeholder groups: the National Council of Agenda 2025, the National Youth Council, civil society, the Higher Social Communication Council, eight Working Committees of Parliament, deans of public and private universities, three provincial governors, the Governor of the Bank of Mozambique, and the President of the National Institute of Statistics (INE). 41. The APRM Support Mission, led by Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat, Lead Panellist for Mozambique, was fielded in August 2006. During the Mission, the APRM’s MoU on the Technical Assessment and Country Review was signed, thus paving the way for the country’s self-assessment process to get under way. 50 A P R M COU N T RY R EV IEW R EP ORT NO. 11