MAPUTO – Thanks to a contribution of €3.7 million (US$ 4.7 million) from the Belgian Fund for Food Security and Nutrition (BFFS), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is able to continue its food security and nutrition programme in Mozambique’s flood-affected Gaza Province.
The contribution is within the partnership agreement, valued at €16 million (US$20.5 million), between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium (through BFFS), the Organization for International Cooperation for Development Project (DISO), the Socialistische Solidariteit (FOS) and the United Nations, specifically WFP, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
WFP aims to improve the food and nutritional security of vulnerable people living in the districts of Chigubo, Mabalane, Guijá, Massingir, Massangena and Chicualacuala. Over the next five years, the programme is designed to improve governance, livelihoods, promoting better agricultural techniques and systems, as well as building disaster risk reduction.
Social protection and community resilience will be reinforced through food or cash for work projects which build community assets, develop the capacity of Local Ccommittees for Risk Management on early warning. The programme also seeks to improve information systems at local level through risk mapping and developing district profiles.
The asset creation component has a multi-sectoral approach which involves the Ministry for Women and Social Action (MMAS), the National Institute for Social Action (INAS), the National Institute for Disaster management (INGC) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG), at central, provincial and district levels, as well as non-governmental organizations.
“The funding from BFFS and the partnerships WFP has with various agencies and NGOs, each with its own specific competencies, constitute a great opportunity to reduce food insecurity across Gaza Province,” said Silvia Caruso, interim WFP Country Director. “All of this will improve our ability to intervene and boost the benefit among the most vulnerable communities with whom we work.”
The sustainability of such interventions lies in the fact that they are aligned with the Mozambique government’s own national policies and strategies, including the National Strategy for Social Protection, the Master Plan for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters, the National Strategy for Food Security and the National Strategy for Climate Change.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Last year, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
- Silvia Caruso WFP/Maputo, Tel no: +258 21482200
- Jerónimo Tovela WFP/ Maputo : Mobile No: +258823185960)