Luísa Diogo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luísa Diogo
Diogo in 2009
11rd Prime Minister of Mozambique
In office 17 February 2004 – 16 January 2010
President	Joaquim Chissano Armando Guebuza
Preceded by	Pascoal Mocumbi
Succeeded by	Aires Ali
Minister of Economy and Finance
In office 2000–2005
Preceded by	Tomaz Salomão
Succeeded by	Manuel Chang
Personal details
Born	(1958-04-11) 11 April 1958 (age 67) Magoé, Portuguese Mozambique
Political party	FRELIMO
Alma mater	Eduardo Mondlane University University of London

Luísa Dias Diogo (born 11 April 1958) is a Mozambican politician. She served as the Prime Minister of Mozambique from February 2004 to January 2010. She was the first woman to hold this important position in Mozambique. Before becoming Prime Minister, she was the Minister of Planning and Finance. Diogo is a member of the FRELIMO party, which has been in charge of the country since it became independent in 1975.

Early Life and Education

Luísa Diogo studied economics at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique. She earned her first degree in 1983. Later, she continued her studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. There, she received a master's degree in financial economics in 1992.

Career Highlights

Diogo started working in the Mozambique Finance Ministry in 1980 while still a student. She quickly moved up, becoming a department head in 1986. By 1989, she was the national budget director.

After that, she worked for the World Bank as a program officer in Mozambique. In 1994, she joined the FRELIMO government. She became the Deputy Minister of Finance under President Joaquim Chissano.

In 2003, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan chose Diogo to join a special UN group. This group focused on how private businesses could help with development.

Prime Minister of Mozambique (2004–2010)

Luísa Diogo became Prime Minister in February 2004. She took over from Pascoal Mocumbi. She also kept her role as finance minister until 2005.

In September 2005, Diogo was a special international speaker at the British Labour Party Conference.

In 2006, Kofi Annan again asked Diogo to help with an important project. She co-chaired a group looking at how the United Nations could work better. This group aimed to improve how the UN helps with development, humanitarian aid, and the environment worldwide.

Diogo also joined another important group in 2008. This group, set up by the Prime Minister of Denmark, worked on how to make development cooperation with Africa more effective.

During the 2007 Mozambican flood, some farmers did not want to leave their homes. Diogo ordered people to be moved from dangerous low-lying areas. This was done to keep them safe from the rising waters of the Zambezi River.

As Prime Minister, Diogo also worked on important goals for her country. These goals included reducing the number of babies who die and helping mothers during childbirth. She also worked to stop the spread of AIDS. A big focus for her was promoting gender equality and helping women gain more power. The UN had set a target to achieve these goals by 2015.

Diogo strongly supported gender equality and women's empowerment. She helped launch a group called "Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians" (MUNIPA). This network works to make sure laws and policies help women. Promoting equality between men and women is a key goal for the Mozambican government.

Life After Politics

After her time as Prime Minister, Luísa Diogo continued to work on global issues. In August 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed her to a group focused on global sustainability.

In 2014, Diogo ran for president within her party, FRELIMO. She came in second place to Filipe Nyusi in the party's selection for the 2014 Mozambican general election.

In 2016, she was chosen to serve on a High Level Panel. This group looked at the future of development aid.

Leadership Roles

Luísa Diogo has held several important leadership roles in different organizations:

• Corporate Boards:
  • Absa Bank Mozambique, Chairwoman of the Board (since 2012)
• Non-profit Organizations:
  • African Union Foundation, Member of the Council
  • Brenthurst Foundation, Member of the Advisory Board
  • Club de Madrid, Member
  • Council of Women World Leaders, Member
  • NOVAFRICA of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Member of the Advisory Board

Fun Fact

In 2010, the famous Irish musician and activist Bono wrote about Luísa Diogo in The New York Times. He said she had the "lioness energy" of other strong female leaders like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Graça Machel.

See also

In Spanish: Luisa Diogo para niños

• Heads of Government of Mozambique