iDE To Strengthen Resilience Among Coastal Communities in Northern Mozambique - 14 October 2022

  IDE Moçambique

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has given iDE a grant of US$25 million to direct a project that aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities along Mozambique's northern coastline.

As part of the Feed the Future Resilient Coastal Communities (FtF RCC) project, the iDE will collaborate with partners H2N, Rare, Terra Firma, and Dobbin International to implement cutting-edge strategies that will help coastal communities and protect marine ecosystems that are susceptible to climatic shocks and environmental degradation.

The goal of the 54-month project is to improve young people's participation in the sustainable management of natural resources, the development of food and fisheries systems, and the creation of more diverse and climatically resilient livelihoods.

 The project will focus on young people in the region between Pemba (Cabo Delgado) and Maganja da Costa (Zambezia).

Working with the public and private sector, civil society and faith-based stakeholders, FtF RCC will also develop and pilot approaches that will create a significant number of jobs and sustainable economic opportunities for youth and women.

 At the same time, FtF RCC will aim to positively impact the long-term health and productivity of critical ecosystems, particularly the nearby marine ecosystems that are vital to food security among the local coastal population.

The country director for iDE in Mozambique, Stefano Gasparini, is enthusiastic to support coastal communities and boost equitable opportunities for green growth in a region that has been negatively affected by poor management, a spike in internally displaced people, and an insufficient investment in local business sectors and industries.

The Country Director stated that "iDE will draw on its extensive experience creating market systems and fostering rural entrepreneurs to provide sustainable living and job options that benefit both the community and the environment."