The first half of 2019 was of a major challenge for the vast majority of Mozambicans, as the central and northern regions of the country were plagued by cyclones IDAI and Kenneth, which hit with big impact the provinces of Sofala, Manica, Tete, Zambézia and Cabo Delgado. To meet these challenges, the Government of Mozambique held, in May 2019, the International Donors Conference in Beira City aiming to encourage support for the reconstruction and implementation of resilient systems for local populations. In response to this call, the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has contributed with funds to various initiatives.
GAIN received part of these funds to implement a food systems reconstruction project in Sofala, Manica and Cabo Delgado provinces. This fund, estimated at $ 5.5 million, will serve to implement different approaches in an initiative implemented in partnership with iDE and AGRA, with the support of local Governments and CTA.
The food systems reconstruction project aims to contribute to restoring and strengthening the state of food and nutrition security, contributing to improved access to clean water and sanitation and strengthening the agrarian system of the affected regions, in Sofala province, through support initiatives for producers and businesses affected by cyclone IDAI.
Under this project, SBNMOZ will provide sustainable support to companies and local Government aiming to strengthen local governance functions to address food security. SBNMOZ thus aims to strengthen the capacity of the local private sector by establishing a regional secretariat in Sofala province, with support from CTA, which will organize a number of research, interviews and workshops to establish the companies’ needs and capacity. This regional approach will ensure better targeted technical support to SMEs and COPSAN and CODSAN in the affected areas.
As a result, around 50 companies are expected to register on the network by 2021 with clear commitments to improving nutrition.
