Gaza Integrated Rural Development Project

 Gaza Province is located in the south of Mozambique and is bordered by Zimbabwe to the north-west, South Africa to the south west and the provinces of Maputo to the south, Inhambane (east) and Manica (north). Areas of coverage by the project include Chokwe district (northern zone) Mabalane district (southern zone) and all of Guija district.

The goal of the Project is to contribute to the building of viable and sustainable households in Gaza province through improved food security, promotion of Human Rights and healthy lifestyles, and through enhanced capacity to manage the environment.

The project focus is on the improvement of health and quality of life by building strong household economies through improved food security, promotion of Human Rights and healthy lifestyles and through enhanced capacity to manage the environment. Capacity development for sustainable development is a running theme throughout the implementation process. The project implementation strategy puts a lot of stress on partnership, networking and advocacy.

The key features of the Project include the following: vulnerability assessment; community awareness, sensitisation and mobilization for action; strengthening and formation of community structures including organizational and local institution capacity building; enhanced farming technologies, including improved crop varieties and the introduction of drought resistant crops; enhanced community-managed small scale irrigation systems and small water-holding dams, including rehabilitation of existing ones; improved system of conservation and storage of agricultural products; promotion and development of skills for managing small business enterprise including a special focus on marketing of products; and Training of Trainers. HIV/AIDS prevention, control and management, promotion of the rights of women and disaster preparedness and mitigation will be central crosscutting issues.

The project contributes to poverty reduction through the support and empowerment of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the project area. Gaza District is one of the areas most affected by poverty and is prone to both drought and floods, and suffered from armed conflict until 1994. By working synergistically with other LWF initiatives, and initiatives by government and other partners in the proposed target area (such as development committees, water, drought resistant crops, credit groups, non-formal education classes) LWF has been able to multiply the impact of the project. Improved food security coupled with improved household economy has resulted in improved productivity and quality of life for the targeted population.

Gaza being a disaster prone area, disaster mitigation is an integral component of the development strategy for the program. Focus is on building capacity for risk management. Activities include increasing the capacity of development institutions to assess early warning signs, and empowering local leaders to take local initiatives in addressing local level disaster related issues before major intervention from national and international institutions. Emphasis is put on creating and building local level capacity in handling disasters and reducing negative impacts. The role of women in disaster mitigation is emphasized. Activities include the involvement of women in disaster management, the assessment of early warning signs, food security and issues related to evacuation during emergencies. The aim is to relocate to safer areas before disasters such as floods occur. LWF-Mozambique’s experience in Gaza shows that strengthened community structures and institutions are central to achieving lasting change in the area.