BACKGROUND

Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northernmost province, has enormous economic potential including natural gas reserves that could make it a leading natural gas exporter and a coastline attractive to tourism.  Yet its 3.2 million residents are faced with high youth unemployment, poor access to education, especially for young women, and high rates of early marriage and gender-based violence.  Since 2017, violent extremists have killed more than 1,500 people, destroyed villages and government facilities and caused ongoing insecurity for residents. In April 2019, Cyclone Kenneth compounded the situation by destroying housing, public infrastructure, and farmland. These dual crises have had a dramatic negative impact on the communities of Cabo Delgado, with the UN estimating that approximately 800,000 people have been forced to flee their homes over the past several years and almost 1 million people remain severely food insecure. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

USAID Recovery Cabo Delgado will work with the government, local organizations, and the private sector in Pemba and Metuge districts to help IDPs and host communities develop sustainable sources of income that will decrease their need for humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the project will encourage the diversification of income generating strategies with an aim to make more developing opportunities available to all family members, especially women and youth. With a focus on the agricultural sector, the project will strengthen economic opportunities for youth from the IDP and host communities by providing vocational and entrepreneurial training and courses in life skills and communication The project will also work with communities to increase resilience to natural disasters by creating producer clubs that promote diversified livelihoods in agriculture and other small scale production activities. USAID RCD will also strengthen networks and information sharing between private companies looking for local talent and better prepared and qualified youth.

EXPECTED RESULTS AND IMPACTS

Approximately 3,200 IDP & host community families (approximately 19,000 people)  will improve resilience to and recovery from conflict and natural disasters through activities that:

  • Diversify livelihood strategies of at least 2,000 households
  • Enhance food security of 3,200 IDP and host community families
  • Strengthen agricultural skills among 3,200 IDP and host community families

Approximately 2000 youth (including young women) will gain life, vocational and entrepreneurial skills that help:

  • Increase completion of secondary school or teacher training
  • Increase youth leadership capacity
  • Increase youth communication skills
  • Positive narratives strengthened among youth from host & IDP communities