Seed Distribution in the District of Tambara as a Response to Food Insecurity

On January 13, 2025, in the localities of Nhacalapo and Miteme, in the district of Tambara (Manica Province), AICS-Maputo carried out the distribution of seed kits for maize and beans (totaling one ton), benefiting 67 small-scale producers, more than half of whom were women. This activity was part of the response to food insecurity caused by the El Niño phenomenon, developed by AICS in collaboration with the Government of Manica Province and the District of Tambara.

Manica Province is facing the effects of El Niño, which caused severe drought, affecting approximately 1.8 million people. February 2024 was the driest month in the last 100 years (source: OCHA 2024). The figures confirm this alarming scenario, with 166,126 people facing acute food insecurity and around 49,384 in emergency situations in Manica Province. This results in 39.1% of children under five years old suffering from chronic malnutrition.

In response to this alarming situation, AICS joined efforts with the Government of Mozambique to fight hunger and increase agricultural production in Manica Province, both through today’s seed distribution and through projects aimed at improving food security in the region. Additionally, at the request of the Provincial Secretary of State, AICS had already delivered 1,100 kg of bean seeds in May of the previous year.

The distribution in Tambara district is part of the initiative “More Resilience, More Communities: Strengthening the Resilience of Communities Most Exposed to Environmental Disasters in Manica and Tete,” implemented by a consortium led by WeWorld GVC, in collaboration with CUAMM and AIFO, in partnership with the local NGO SEPPA.

The project started on October 1, 2024, and aims to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable communities in areas most affected by extreme climate events, with a gender-sensitive and inclusive approach, in line with the health-climate nexus. The project covers the districts of Tsangano and Doa in Tete Province, and Guru and Tambara in Manica Province, focusing on the restoration of essential health, agriculture, and infrastructure services, as well as strengthening local governments in disaster preparedness and early disaster management, such as in the case of the El Niño phenomenon.

Evelina, Afonso Dhlakama’s former cook who used certified seeds for the first time

By family tradition, Evelina Zacarias had stored some of the maize kernels from her harvest in the barn to use them as seed for the next farming season in 2023, but climate change, which has caused drought in her village, has called this practice into question.

“We always kept the kernels that looked healthier. It’s a tradition that goes back to my grandparents, but as the rainy season waned, the seeds sprouted and withered immediately due to the sun at this stage, and so we lost most of the production, with one ear or the other surviving” in the field, which was then harvested and stored for planting, she explains.

The former guerrilla of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) was reintegrated after her recent demobilisation in the village of Zivale, a locality in the interior of Muda Serração, in the district of Gondola, in the province of Manica, where, in addition to her family, she cultivates to support herself.

She joined a farmers’ association as part of the disarmament, demobilisation and social reintegration (DDR) process and received certified seed for the first time thanks to a DELPAZ support line.

“We received the certified seeds and I planted them in the field for the first time. Wary, I set aside a plot where I sowed traditional seeds, but everything that sprouted died because of the sun. All the food I have today comes from certified seed,” she explained.

“The certified seeds have greatly improved my income from field production. I had no idea that the drought was caused by climate change and that we had to react with new farming techniques and improved seeds that DELPAZ technicians are teaching us,” she remarks, as she rearranges the bundles of hay that will cover a new barn.

Evelina Zacarias, 50, reintegrated in Zivale, fought for the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) guerrillas for 18 years, serving as a carer for the historical leader’s children and then as Afonso Dhlakama’s cook, and has been demobilised twice, most recently in June 2020.

Evelina was recruited into guerrilla warfare at the age of seven in 1981, during the 16-year civil war, and was demobilised a first time in 1994 by the UN peacekeeping mission in Mozambique (Onumoz). After 18 years of civilian life, she rejoined the guerrillas to ‘fight for democracy’ in 2012, when Afonso Dhlakama summoned and regrouped former guerrillas in the Gorongosa mountain range in Sofala.

“I was recruited with my father in Mpunga and from there with General Ossufo (Momade) we left for Gorongosa, then for a base in Maringue and then for Massala,” a journey that took months on foot, the woman recounts, pointing out that it was in Massala that she was first demobilised.

Now the mother of eight children, all born during the intervals of the conflicts, she initially received military training for combat but was then assigned to look after the children of President Afonso Dhlakama, who later also served as cook.

“There were houses where the leader’s wives and children were and we looked after them. We washed their clothes in the rivers and cooked for them until the end of the war. President Dhlakama always came there where the wives and children were and assured us that one day the war would end, and this went on until we were demobilised for the first time in 1992,” she says with an enviable energy in her gestures.

The former guerrilla recalls that on her first demobilisation she returned to her home village of Búzi with a machete, an axe, a hoe and a bank cheque, which she never cashed because it burnt down in the hut where she lived during a fire.

She was demobilised again as part of the Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) process – which stems from the peace agreement signed in 2019 – and is now devoting her life to her family and farming.

“We are learning to overcome the drought with new production methods and this will improve our income, so we can take care of our family,” says Evelina, her usual discreet smile highlighting the dark features that cross her face.

She hopes to one day mechanise farming and abandon the hoe he uses to cultivate his two hectares of land, dedicated exclusively to growing maize and sesame.

The ex-guerrillas are among the thousands of beneficiaries of the DELPAZ Programme, which ensures the economic and social reintegration of all ex-combatants, their families and rural communities affected by the conflict, in order to achieve lasting peace in Mozambique.

Eneida, the young electrician who wants to transform her quiet village with smart lighting

Driven by her love of electricity, Eneida Piedade Domingos, 24, was inspired to transform her quiet village in the interior of the Guro district with smart lighting, after having benefited from the electrical installation course promoted within the DELPAZ programme.

The daughter of a former Renamo guerrilla fighter, she says that the armed conflict in her district has slowed development, but also the form of lighting, which is not in tune with the harmony of light compared to developed cities in the country and the world.

‘This was the opportunity I found to take a course,’ she says, emphasising that this gave her the knowledge she needed to realise her dream of seeing her village use technology to light its houses and streets. Eneida points out that although this technique is already applied in other parts of the world, it is still little used in her district.

‘The example of using photocells in houses makes it possible to flip the switch at a certain time and light up a room without the need for human presence,’ as well as the use of app-controlled smart bulbs to save energy consumption in homes, he explains enthusiastically.

She emphasised that ‘the course helped me to come up with ideas for changes in my district, such as the use of objects that many people already use’ in advanced cities.

Eneida finished compulsory schooling without having had the opportunity for vocational training, especially in the field of electricity, her passion since childhood, and sees this opportunity as a window of change for her social life as well.

‘I am a woman and I was able to take the electricity course; therefore, I encourage other women to take this type of training and find a job,’ to achieve economic independence and “not just wait for men to work”.

She insists that women should be able to support the family on their own and ‘not just wait for the man, wait for money from someone, so having an education is important to be able to support one’s family,’ she notes, thanking DELPAZ for its efforts in providing training opportunities for young people.

‘I am very happy that the DELPAZ programme has given us this opportunity to study, I am really grateful, because even though not all the young people in my district were able to take the course, I will reach out to other young people to teach and together transform our district,’ says Eneida Piedade Domingos.

A total of 100 young people has already benefited from vocational training in carpentry, metallurgy, construction, mechanics and tailoring in the five districts where DELPAZ is implemented in the province of Manica.

The DELPAZ programme pays special attention to creating opportunities for young people, women, ex-combatants and their families.

In all five districts of Manica Province, thousands of people have already benefited from DELPAZ, which is implementing projects in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure and entrepreneurship to ensure the economic and social reintegration of all ex-combatants, their families and rural communities affected by the conflict, in order to achieve lasting peace in Mozambique.

The Mozambican government’s programme is funded by the European Union, and together with UNCDF is implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), which implements DELPAZ in the provinces of Manica and Tete, and by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Sofala.

Marcos Augusto: personal transformation and creating opportunities for the youth of his community

Marcos Augusto, with a trajectory like that of many young people in his village of Mudima, in the northwestern interior of Gondola, Manica province, finished 10th grade and spent many years waiting for a job opportunity in the public sector.

He only had one year left of ‘hope’ for his dream job in the state – as the age limit for admission is 35 – when, earlier this year, he applied for a carpentry training position under DELPAZ, a Mozambican government programme implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), which pays special attention to creating opportunities for young people, women, ex-combatants and their families.

‘I applied and was selected in the two phases before the training and, together with other trainees, we were admitted to a training course that started on 15 May 2024, and I chose the area of carpentry,’ explained Marcos Augusto, who is doing a one-month internship.

He emphasised that training in carpentry was the push he needed to take the lead in his career. Since then, he has started to ‘write’ his own story,’ says Marcos Augusto, ’embracing with dedication the opportunity to train in carpentry, a trade with which he intends to create self-employment and help his remote community.

‘From where I live to the town of Gondola is 18 kilometres, and for those who need coffins for burials, or to have windows, doors and other items built, getting there is quite expensive. That is why I thought of becoming a local carpenter,’ he said.

Learning the trade, he said, was essential for him to think about building a successful career, one that will focus on helping many young people in his village get out of unemployment, taking refuge in crime and drug use.

‘There are young people who are not working, so if I bet on self-employment, with the kit they will give me in this training and some money, I will take young people and employ them in my carpentry workshop. That way, these young people won’t steal, and they won’t have dependencies. They will work in my company, which I want to grow,’ he said.

This training was quite advantageous for him. It would have taken him a lot longer to become a carpenter, a desire, however, that he had also long had to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, a carpenter.

‘I would like the project to provide me with manual and electronic equipment, because electrical equipment produces furniture faster than manual equipment, which would really help me achieve my goal of employing many young people in my area who are not working,’ he said.

Thanks to the development of skills and confidence, Marcos Augusto is grateful for the opportunity provided by DELPAZ and hopes that the programme will reach other young people in the provinces affected by the armed conflict.
A total of 100 young people have already benefited from vocational training in carpentry, blacksmithing, construction, mechanics and tailoring in the five districts where DELPAZ is implemented in Manica province.

Celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), in collaboration with the Forum of Mozambican Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FAMOD) and other partners, celebrated today in Maputo the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event was held under the theme “For the Implementation of the Disability Act in Mozambique”, highlighting the importance of turning legislative principles into concrete actions to benefit persons with disabilities.

This year, the celebration in Mozambique holds particular significance due to the recent approval of the Law for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the first specific legislation adopted by the Mozambican Parliament on April 3, 2024.

The event brought together key institutional figures and civil society representatives, including the President of FAMOD, Cantol Podja, the U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique, Peter Vrooman, and the Deputy Director of AICS Maputo, Maria Cristina Pescante. Representatives of Italian NGOs such as ACAP, AIFO, and CUAMM, alongside other civil society actors committed to promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities, were also present.

The celebration took place at the Parque dos Continuadores and began with a symbolic run, embodying the spirit of inclusion and the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. Several stands were set up in the park to showcase projects funded by AICS, such as INCLU.DE and the Non-Communicable Diseases Programme, both aimed at strengthening inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on the health sector.

The President of FAMOD, Cantol Podja, emphasized that “the approval of the first law on the rights of persons with disabilities represents a crucial opportunity for society to reflect and renew efforts to eliminate inequalities and human rights violations. However, we all understand that this is just a starting point: the approval of the law marks the end of one phase and the beginning of an even more challenging one, that of its effective implementation.”

The Deputy Director of AICS, Maria Cristina Pescante, reiterated the commitment of Italian cooperation, stating: “The promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities is a historical priority for Italian cooperation.” She added that AICS has actively collaborated with local institutions and Italian civil society organizations “in initiatives aimed at the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on health, employment, and human rights.”

The celebration reaffirms the commitment of AICS and its partners to continue efforts to ensure full respect and implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities. This commitment is particularly relevant in light of the significant milestone achieved by Mozambique in 2024, with the approval of its first law dedicated to the rights of persons with disabilities.

United for Equality: AICS Maputo’s Commitment to Ending Gender-Based Violence

In Mozambique, gender-based violence is one of the main social challenges affecting millions of women, taking various forms such as economic, physical, and sexual abuse. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), approximately 35% of Mozambican women have experienced physical or sexual violence by their partner. Despite progress made, gender inequalities remain significant, with women representing only 27% of parliamentary members and being underrepresented in decision-making positions.

In the international context, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 set fundamental goals for gender equality. Thirty years after its adoption, Mozambique continues to pursue these goals, although gender-based violence and discrimination remain challenges to be addressed.

On the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, AICS Maputo joins the UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls campaign, under the theme “Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” With the goal of eliminating gender-based violence by 2030, the initiative aims to ensure that every woman and girl can live without fear.

Among the most significant initiatives of AICS, we highlight:

DELPAZ, a project that supports local economic development by improving livelihoods in rural areas as a key to peace and stability, with a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups. The project involves over 20,000 beneficiaries in the provinces of Manica and Tete, with 15,285 women in Manica and 5,504 in Tete. Among the expected results, DELPAZ aims to improve the living conditions of rural communities, with specific attention to gender equality.
‘Coding Girls’, which promotes female involvement in the tech sector, improving girls’ access to digital technologies and supporting the development of ICT skills. The project has trained 586 high school students (ages 16-18) and 80 university students, with the creation of 7 female-run businesses in the ICT sector, supported by the CI-UEM business incubator – Innovation Space
‘As Mulheres do SUSTENTA’, which involves over 8,000 women, including female farmers and small producers. The project promotes the creation of 2 sustainable production chains, strengthening the capacities of public institutions and developing measures to support female entrepreneurship, agro-food product quality, and environmental sustainability.

Today, dressed in orange, the symbol of hope and a future free from violence, our team reaffirms its commitment to continue working for a world where every woman and girl can live free from fear and discrimination. 🧡

Participation of AICS Maputo in the 11th Edition of the CEO Dialogue on Southern Africa organized by The European House Ambrosetti (TEHA): Promoting Agribusiness and Integration in the SADC

The AICS Maputo office, in close coordination with the AICS Directorate-General, the AICS Deputy Technical Directorate, and AICS Office VII, participated in the 11th Edition of the CEO Dialogue on Southern Africa organized by The European House Ambrosetti (TEHA), which took place on November 14-15, 2024, in Johannesburg. Launched in 2014, this forum serves as a key platform in Southern Africa for business and institutional leaders to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore collaboration opportunities in Europe-Africa relations, with a specific focus on the SADC region. Its objective is to foster strategic business opportunities and strengthen commercial and political ties between the two continents.

In this context, the AICS Maputo office, in collaboration with the Italian Embassies in Maputo and Lusaka, ICE (Italian Trade Agency), and other partners such as UNIDO and the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), supported the participation of five companies[1] from Mozambique (particularly from the Manica Province) and two companies from Zambia[2] at the Forum. These companies operate in sectors such as dried pineapple production, goat farming, agricultural inputs supply, and fruit trading. Thanks to the Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings organized during the Forum, these companies had the opportunity to explore new collaborations with CEOs and executives from public and private entities across the region.

One of the central themes of the Forum was the potential of agro-industry in the region. In this regard, Paolo Enrico Sertoli, Head of the AICS Maputo office, participated in a panel on “Unlocking Agroindustry Potential: Sustainable and Inclusive Growth for Business and Communities.” During his intervention, he highlighted the crucial role of AICS in supporting agribusiness in the SADC region by financing sustainable agricultural value chains and promoting public-private partnerships.

As an example, he mentioned the project of the Manica Agro-Food Center (CAAM), one of the nine pilot initiatives included under the Mattei Plan for Africa, launched in January 2024 by the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The goal is to establish an agro-processing center in Manica Province (Mozambique) to support agricultural SMEs by enhancing production, processing, and market access. As Sertoli emphasized: “Thanks to its strategic location along the Beira Corridor, it will have a catalytic impact not only on Mozambique but also on neighboring countries, fostering regional trade and the development of the agri-food sector.”

The project is complemented by other initiatives also funded by the Italian Development Cooperation and AICS in the region (including PRODAI and ZIM-MOZA), aimed at promoting agro-trade and reducing barriers to facilitate regional commerce.

The Forum was attended by prominent figures, including Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic; Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance of Zimbabwe; Pietro Mininni, CEO of The European House – Ambrosetti Africa; Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador to South Africa; Lorenzo Galanti, Director-General of ICE; Riccardo Zani, Executive Director of INALCA; Raffaele Cattaneo, Undersecretary for International and European Relations of the Lombardy Region; and Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. The Ambassadors of Angola and Mozambique, along with former ministers from various countries, also participated.

The participation of the AICS Maputo office in the CEO Dialogue on Southern Africa marks a decisive step in promoting sustainable development and socio-economic inclusion in the SADC region. Starting in 2024, the Maputo office has expanded its scope, adding Angola and Zambia to the three countries already covered (Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe), thereby reaching a total of five SADC countries with a combined population of 148 million. The collaborations initiated demonstrate AICS’s strong commitment to strengthening the agro-industrial sector to tackle common challenges, such as the effects of El Niño and food crises, by focusing on public-private partnerships to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

[1] The five companies from Mozambique that participated in the Forum were: Agromaco, Luteari – Insumos e Serviços Agrícolas, Novo Mundo Comércio e Serviços, Agropecuária Frutas de Révuè, and Cooperativa Frutas de Báruè.

[2] The two companies from Zambia that participated in the Forum were: Zamgoat Products e Northwest Crown Fruits.

Mozambique – Mozambican coffee featured in the pages of “Coffee Magazine” thanks to AICS support

The history of Mozambican coffee received significant visibility in issue 49 of Coffee Magazine[1]. The publication highlights the fact that the country is “home to unique and endemic coffee species along its coast.” A notable example is Coffea zanguebariae, grown in the Quirimbas archipelago, particularly on Ibo Island. In 1906, this coffee received a gold medal at the International Fair in Lisbon, thanks to its unique flavor and aroma, distinguishing it from the robusta and arabica varieties. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), through the MAIS VALOR[2] project, supports the export and commercialization of Ibo coffee.

The article also explores the cultivation of another coffee variety, Coffea racemosa, which has traditionally been produced in Inhambane Province. Over time, Mozambique has expanded arabica coffee production to other provinces and regions of the country, such as Niassa, Gorongosa, Tete, and Chimanimani. Currently, over 13 companies are involved in coffee production, engaging around 4,000 farmers.

This progress in the coffee sector has attracted international attention, culminating in Mozambique’s membership in the International Coffee Organization (ICO)[3] in July 2023. A year later, in line with this international recognition, AICS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), the Mozambican Coffee Growers Association (Amocafé), UNIDO, and other partners, organized the first Mozambique Coffee Festival, held on June 14 and 15, 2024.

The festival, which brought together over 8,000 participants, showcased the diverse varieties of Mozambican coffee, with dynamic panels and presentations led by experts from countries such as Brazil, Italy, Ethiopia, and Portugal. The event was a celebration of Mozambican coffee, also highlighting the union of two famous Italian products: coffee and gelato, with tastings of five types of Mozambican coffee gelato. The festival received numerous accolades, with the magazine emphasizing: “participants praised the event’s structure, the quality of the presentations, and the overall experience.”

This event was a promising prelude to strengthening the country’s coffee sector, with the goal of Mozambique becoming a relevant player in the global coffee market. The Italian Development Cooperation and AICS, also through the Mattei Plan (which includes upcoming sectoral initiatives), are strongly committed to collaborating with the private sector, including major Italian producers such as Illy and Lavazza, as well as engaging with government authorities and international partners, to further promote the development of the coffee sector.

The reference in Coffee Magazine represents another important step towards the progressive recognition of the sector’s potential in Mozambique.

[1]The Coffee Magazine was launched in 2012, inspired by the growing coffee culture, especially in South Africa. The magazine is dedicated to celebrating the coffee sector, covering baristas, coffee shops, competitions, and innovations within the industry. Over the years, the magazine has gained popularity and is now published quarterly in both print and digital formats.

[2] With funding from the Italian Cooperation for Development and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) launched an initiative aimed at rediscovering local traditions and enhancing the agrobiodiversity of the Ibo region. In 2019, the project “Mais Valor” was introduced with the goal of reviving “Ibo coffee” to strengthen the resilience of the local population.

[3] The International Coffee Organization (ICO), founded in 1963 and based in London, promotes cooperation between coffee-producing and coffee-consuming countries, supporting the sustainable development of the industry. It currently has 49 members, including both producing and consuming countries.

Mozambique – World Food Day – The AICS Office in Maputo renews its commitment to nutrition and agricultural resilience in the Manica Province.

Mozambique is one of the countries most affected by climate change. According to the Global Climate Risk Index, published in 2021 by the German NGO Germanwatch[1], the country was classified as the most vulnerable in the world to these impacts. The report highlights the consequences already suffered by Mozambique, such as Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, as well as prolonged periods of drought.

Currently, the Manica Province, in the center of the country, is facing the effects of El Niño[2], which has caused severe drought, affecting around 1.8 million people. February 2024 was the driest month in the last 100 years[3].

Bartolomeu Tenesse, a beneficiary of the DELPAZ program[4], describes the situation: “The hunger this year is frightening. There are families feeding on corn bran, fruits, and wild tubers. Others go days without eating.” Aida Diekson, a farmer in the Macossa district and a beneficiary of the “Mulheres No Sustenta” project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)[5], reports, “This year, nothing grew. The tomatoes, onions, and lettuce dried up.”

The numbers confirm these alarming accounts, with 166,126 people facing acute food insecurity and around 49,384 in emergency situations in Manica Province. This results in 39.1% of children under five suffering from chronic malnutrition.

In light of this alarming scenario, AICS has joined forces with the Government of Mozambique to combat hunger and increase agricultural production in Manica Province[6]. These actions are even more relevant considering the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and the growing food insecurity in the country.

To reinforce these efforts, AICS, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), celebrated World Food Day in Chimoio, the capital of Manica Province, under the theme “The Right to Food for a Better Life and Future.” In this context, a series of activities were organized at the Nhamatsane Center School, reflecting the common commitment to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious and quality food.

In his speech, Giovanni Barbagli, Gender and Rural Development Officer and representative of the Agency in Chimoio, emphasized AICS’s commitment in Manica Province, highlighting the various ongoing interventions[7] aimed at improving food security and nutrition.

He also pointed out that agriculture is one of the five essential pillars of the Mattei Plan, approved this year by the Italian government. Barbagli further mentioned the Manica Agro-Food Center (CAAM[8]), a €38 million investment that will be built in Chimoio.

This center will play a crucial role in promoting fair and inclusive agricultural value chains, helping to strengthen the resilience of farmers and communities against extreme phenomena, such as El Niño.

Ensuring a secure market for local production is fundamental to stimulating agricultural growth and better utilizing the natural resources of the Province. CAAM aims to stabilize agricultural product prices by increasing the purchase price for producers, reducing the number of intermediaries, and creating a short supply chain between producer and consumer.

In addition, it aims to add value to agricultural products through washing, calibration, packaging, direct and wholesale sales; preservation and processing of raw materials for the production of juices, pulps, oils, essential oils, dried fruits, dehydrated products, etc. Once the domestic market is satisfied, CAAM aims to look toward export, promoting Mozambique’s agricultural excellences in the international market.

Located in the Beira Corridor, Manica Province is strategic for the country’s food security. CAAM will not only adopt sustainable green technologies and enhance the role of women but will also promote the circular economy through technical studies that will improve the region’s capacity to face challenges posed by adverse climatic events.

Celebrating World Food Day, AICS reaffirms its commitment to support the communities in Manica, severely affected by drought caused by El Niño. Through agricultural and climate resilience projects, the agency seeks to ensure access to safe and nutritious food, contributing to mitigating the effects of food insecurity in the region.

[1] The next report will be published in 2025, presenting an updated methodology to improve the comparability between country rankings and a more sustainable dataset on climate impacts for future publications.

[2] El Niño is a climatic phenomenon characterized by the warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean, which causes disturbances in atmospheric patterns. In the Manica province of Mozambique, this phenomenon has been associated with severe droughts, particularly between 2015 and 2016, when precipitation decreased by up to 50%. Currently, the region is facing challenges related to El Niño once again, with drought forecasts affecting agricultural production and increasing food insecurity.

[3] According to data from the report published by OCHA, “El Niño Humanitarian Overview Southern Africa.

[4] DELPAZ, funded by the European Union in Mozambique, is a program of the Mozambican government that works to consolidate peace in 14 districts of the provinces of Manica, Tete, and Sofala. In Manica province, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) supports economic development by collaborating with local authorities and a consortium of Italian and local civil society organizations led by Helpcode

[5] AICS is currently funding and implementing 7 interventions in Manica Province (Mulheres No Sustenta, PRODAI, Rural Development Support Program – PADR, DELPAZ, MAIS VALOR 1, MAIS VALOR 2, and CAAM), each with different implementing partners, but all sharing a common goal: to eradicate hunger. These interventions focus on supporting small and medium agricultural enterprises, with initiatives that include marketing their products, creating green spaces, distributing seeds, installing irrigation systems, agroforestry, beekeeping, etc., thus promoting more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agriculture.

[6] In addition to the various projects funded by AICS in Manica Province, aimed at strengthening food security, in May 2024, we delivered, at the request of the Provincial Secretary of State, 1,100 kg of bean seeds.

[7] (i) the PSSR (Rural Development Support Program), conducted in partnership with FAR, which aims to support commercial agriculture and local economic development through strengthening small producers and community organizations, as well as micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises, through technical and financial assistance services, access to land, and formalization of its use, in order to improve productive capacities and facilitate access to the market for agri-food production;

(ii) the initiative called “Women in SUSTENTA,” implemented by a consortium of Italian and Mozambican NGOs, represented by Progettomondo, which promotes women’s participation in the rural economy by supporting innovation, with particular attention to production processes and value chain enhancement in the agri-food sector;

(iii) Pro-DAI, an initiative implemented by FAO, which aims to reduce poverty and improve food and nutritional security through the transformation of diversified, innovative, efficient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems, and the adoption of sustainable models for intensifying agricultural production through appropriate soil management practices and promoting agroforestry systems to strengthen economic, social, and ecological sustainability;

(iv) MAIS VALOR II – Improving inclusive and sustainable development of agricultural supply chains, a technical assistance initiative implemented by UNIDO, which aims to increase local capacities, technological updating, and the transfer of know-how to strengthen agribusiness models and contribute to the development of the agro-industry in Mozambique, focusing on promoting added value and improving agricultural processing, with interventions in the horticulture, coffee, and cereal production sectors.

[8] On July 8, 2024, an agreement was signed for the development of an agri-food center in Manica province, Mozambique, under the Mission Structure for Southern Africa of the Mattei Plan. The agreement was signed by Stefano Gatti, Director-General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Paolo Lombardo, Director of International Cooperation of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, along with Ernesto Max Elias Tonela, Minister of Economy and Finance of Mozambique. This project, worth €38 million, aims to strengthen food security and promote sustainable agriculture.

Inauguration ceremony of the infrastructure works of the Inhaca Marine Biology Station

On October 14, the inauguration ceremony for the rehabilitation/construction works of part of the infrastructure of the Inhaca Marine Biology Station (EBMI), of the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), took place on Inhaca Island (Maputo Province, Mozambique). The event was attended by, among others, the Italian Ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, the Deputy Ambassador, Eugeniu Rotaru, the Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) – Maputo Office, Paolo Enrico Sertoli, and the Magnificent Rector of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Manuel Guilherme Júnior, along with other government officials, donors, and representatives from local and religious authorities.

AICS is supporting the EBMI through several programs related to the environmental sector (in particular, Mangrowth, RINO, and BioForMoz), contributing to the training of human resources and the rehabilitation and construction of certain infrastructures, with the aim of supporting knowledge transfer and the development of local scientific skills, in an attempt to “decolonize” research and the management of Mozambique’s natural resources.

Among the works carried out at the EBMI, the refurbishment of the dormitories and dining hall stands out, along with the new construction of the research laboratory, which will equip the Station with spaces and equipment suitable for conducting scientific research in both dry and wet environments.

The delegation, welcomed by the highest authorities of the Municipality of Inhaca, had the opportunity to visit the facilities. The new dormitories, which can accommodate 58 students and teachers, as well as the dining hall and laboratory, are essential for providing optimal conditions for national and international researchers involved in studying the rich biodiversity of the island, which is largely identified as a natural reserve and hosts various biomes, from the southernmost coral reefs on the planet to dunes, mangroves, and wetlands, and is home to families of dugongs (considered globally a vulnerable species). During the ceremony, it was possible to observe the use of the new facilities, which are currently hosting Italian and Mozambican students participating in the second edition of the Summer School, a program that, with the support of the Mangrowth project, focuses on the study of mangrove habitats. The delegation had the opportunity to interact with the students and learn about their work.

The delegation also visited the facilities that will house the laboratory, which will have the capacity to accommodate at least 10 researchers simultaneously. The laboratory consists of a wet lab, used for studying marine biological samples under controlled conditions, and a dry lab, intended for the analysis of predominantly terrestrial samples and data processing. These two types of laboratories are essential for comprehensive research on the marine and coastal ecosystems of Inhaca Island. In fact, the EBMI hosts Mozambican researchers from UEM and other national institutions, as well as from Southern African institutions, to conduct research on the protection of marine biodiversity.

The Italian Ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, emphasized that “Research and protection of the marine environment are even more crucial in the context of environmental preservation, as the damage caused to maritime resources, although less visible than that on land, is enormous.” He also reiterated that “The environment is fundamental for all of us, being essential to guarantee and promote a future for new generations. We have a very important moral responsibility: to hand over the planet to the young in the best possible conditions.”

For his part, the Rector of Eduardo Mondlane University, Manuel Guilherme Júnior, thanked the Italian government, “our partner, who has supported us for the past 45 years. This cooperation has been important for UEM and has allowed UEM to reach the hands of Mozambicans through teaching actions, in research as well as in extension and innovation.” He also warned about the importance of sustainability, “not only in terms of science and research, but also in preserving the infrastructures built here, so that they can last and benefit not only this generation but also future generations who will need these structures.”

The event concluded with a visit to the EBMI Museum, where a technician highlighted the rich history of the station, founded in 1951, and the more than 12,000 species recorded in Inhaca, including over 150 species of corals, 300 species of birds, and four species of turtles. The technician presented some specimens, such as a dugong skeleton, an endangered animal that, thanks to the efforts of partners, including Italian Cooperation, is returning to the waters of Inhaca.