25 February 2022, Pemba – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), launched a technical cooperation project on Friday 25th February, 2022, that aims to rebuild the agricultural-based livelihoods of the most vulnerable displaced and host communities affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique.

The guest of honour, H.E Valige Tauabo, the Governor of Cabo Delgado acknowledged the good collaboration between FAO and the government in the efforts to enhance the food security and nutrition of those impacted by cumulative effects of the conflict, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have made food out of reach for hundreds of thousands of households across the province. The Governor was accompanied by the Cabo Delgado Provincial Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dauod Ussuhale, the Resilience Team Leader Southern Africa and FAO Representative a.i Lewis Hove. As noted by H.E. Valige Tauabo, "We are aware that the intensity of the crisis and its impact on food and nutrition security of the affected populations requires timely and coordinated humanitarian support to rebuild agricultural livelihoods. This project responds to the reality.

In 2021, 12 576 households (51 percent female-headed) received seeds and 56 787 tools (e.g. hoes, sickles and watering cans) resulting in 7 547 ha of land planted (average of 0.6 ha/household). The FAO-MADER technical cooperation project will build up on the gains made in 2021 through provision of agricultural inputs to change to households in the Districts of Palma, Chiure and Balama. Through the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) that is co-chaired by FAO and the MADER, there will be coordination with other organizations working in the target areas to ensure that there will be no gaps or duplications of efforts. It is expected that at the end of the project implementation, the food production capacities of the beneficiaries will be restored. Furthermore, household income will be generated from the sales of surplus food, especially for small-scale farmers displaced from their homesteads and host communities burden of sharing already scarce resources.

FAO's work in northern Mozambique is guided by the Government of Mozambique's Strategy for Resilience and Development for the North (ERDIN). In support of the Government's ERDIN, FAO launched its own three-year Agriculture Livelihood Response Plan (ALRP) for northern Mozambique (2021/23). The ALRP lays the foundation for efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems through Better Production; Better Nutrition; a Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind. As noted by Lewis Hove, "Empowering Mozambican agro-dealers and suppliers through sourcing agriculture livelihood kits locally in Cabo Delgado can contribute to sustainable restoration of agriculture-based livelihoods of vulnerable IDPs and host communities."

FAO and the Government of Mozambique's collaborative efforts do not stop here. The AWG works with all partners operating in the agriculture sector to provide strategic leadership and guidance in order to deal with current and emerging issues in agriculture, food security and nutrition, so that no vulnerable farming family is left behind. In conclusion, the project launch reiterated the need to ensure sustained agricultural response to the prevailing crisis in Cabo Delgado, and exchange information in a coordinated and harmonized approach.