Mozambique
![Celina Mader, 18, with her son Bartholomew. Although only 18, Celina already carries a heavy burden of responsibility as both her parents are HIV positive. As well as nursing them, she is also bringing up her brother, sister and son [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/mozambique/images/celina-mader-18-with-her-son-bartholomew/890260-1-eng-GB/celina-mader-18-with-her-son-bartholomew_1column50_12space_landscape.jpg)
More than 70% of its 19 million people live below the poverty line, with more than half the population living on less than $1 a day
Mozambique also remains highly dependent on external aid, receiving more than $500m per year. Essentially an agricultural country, the climate is predominantly semi-arid with a low annual rainfall.
Due to limited water irrigation systems across the country, agricultural production depends heavily on rain. But fluctuating weather patterns including cyclical droughts and floods have devastated agriculture in recent years, leading to hunger and misery for millions of people.
HIV infection among adults has steadily increased over the years, with rates higher in the central and the southern regions of the country.
Women are disproportionately affected, with young women between 20-24 years old living with HIV outnumbering men by four to one.
![CAFOD supporters have lobbied for - and won - commitments on aid, debt and a fairer system of world trade [Kate Stanworth]](/var/storage/images/images/politicians-statespeople-and-celebrities/cafod-trade-justice-lobby-of-parliament/247481-2-eng-GB/cafod-trade-justice-lobby-of-parliament_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) |
Our Policy Unit researches and analyses international policies affecting poor communities, and suggests alternatives to reduce poverty |
 | Secondary schools: Lent Fast Day 2010 If you’d like to get everyone thinking about the point of giving something up for Lent, and then doing it for a good cause in a fun and interesting way this year, we hope you’ll enjoy our fresh approach for Lent 2010, called Give it up! |
![Celina Mader, 18, with her son Bartholomew. Although only 18, Celina already carries a heavy burden of responsibility as both her parents are HIV positive. As well as nursing them, she is also bringing up her brother, sister and son [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/mozambique/images/celina-mader-18-with-her-son-bartholomew/890260-1-eng-GB/celina-mader-18-with-her-son-bartholomew_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) |
All around the world, we are fighting back against HIV and AIDS, which forms one of the biggest threats, not just to health, but to human development, on our planet |
![Anabelle Macucule, aged 18 yrs. Got to standard six at school but now works in the fields all day [Pieternella Pieterse]](/var/storage/images/media/cafod/images/africa/mozambique/anabelle_macucule_12781/9875-1-eng-GB/anabelle_macucule_12781_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) |
"Nous devons faire face au problème du coton dont le prix baisse d’année en année par suite des subventions reçues aux Etats-Unis" |
![Although only 18, Celina already carries a heavy burden of responsibility as both her parents are HIV positive. As well as nursing them, she is also bringing up her brother, sister and son in a drought-stricken region of Mozambique [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/get-involved/fundraising/fast-day/celina-preparing-fish/771996-1-eng-GB/celina-preparing-fish_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) | Standing alongside families in need HIV volunteers offer a vital lifeline to thousands of families in remote rural areas of Mozambique – giving both practical and emotional support to those facing stigma and discrimination |
