Mozambique
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.
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![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)

![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)
![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)
![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)

