Overview
The coastal areas of northern Mozambique are blessed with world class terrestrial and marine resources, but face ever-growing challenges from climate change, lack of economic opportunity, and growing levels of violent extremism. The rich biodiversity of Mozambique’s northern coast between Pemba and Maganja da Costa is a resource that provides important food security, ecosystem services, and livelihood opportunities for local communities, as well as broader economic growth potential if sustainably managed.
However, poor management, the influx of internally displaced people (IDPs), market isolation and low investment, unproductive agriculture, poor mining practices, and climate change have put these resources at risk. The youth in these coastal communities are particularly at risk; they will help shape the future of these communities and natural systems, for better or for worse. There is both an urgent need and a great opportunity to increase youth leadership and participation in economic development, sustainable natural resource management, food systems, and climate adaptation.
Program Description
Resilient Coastal Communities (RCC) is a 4.5-year, $25M activity that focuses on a subset of the coastal region south of Pemba and North of Maganja da Costa. The RCC activity will blend USAID Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Climate Change resources to improve the resilience of coastal communities where rich, yet fragile land and marine ecosystems are at risk of climatic shocks and human-inflicted degradation. The activity will create high-quality, effective partnerships to pilot new and innovative ways to improve the resilience of coastal communities. Working with the public and private sector, civil society, and religious stakeholders, this activity will develop and pilot projects that will create a significant number of jobs and sustainable economic opportunities for youth and women, while positively impacting the long-term health and productivity of critical ecosystems, particularly the extraordinarily diverse marine ecosystems that are vital to food security.
Expected Results
Under this program a combination of approaches will support youth and women as leaders and change agents: community management of coastal and marine ecosystems; livelihood diversification; sustainable intensification of agriculture linked to markets; and enhanced community agency to adapt to a changing climate. The activity is expected to increase economic opportunities for individuals and communities while improving the management of the resources upon which these communities depend.
