Who We Are
Founder & ChairmanOur Partners
AwardsFact Sheet
Frequently Asked QuestionsContact Us
Founder & Chairman
Our Partners
Awards
Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
What We Do

Developing Human Capacity


Early Childhood DevelopmentEducationHealth

Building Resilient Communities


Environment & Climate ChangeAgriculture & Food SecurityCivil SocietyDisaster Preparedness & ResponseHabitat Planning & Improvement

Generating Economic Growth


Enterprise DevelopmentFinancial InclusionHospitality & TourismIndustrial DevelopmentInfrastructure DevelopmentMedia

Honouring Cultural Heritage


ArchitectureHistoric CitiesMuseumMusicParks & Gardens

Developing Human Capacity


Early Childhood DevelopmentEducationHealth

Building Resilient Communities


Environment & Climate ChangeAgriculture & Food SecurityCivil SocietyDisaster Preparedness & ResponseHabitat Planning & Improvement

Generating Economic Growth


Enterprise DevelopmentFinancial InclusionHospitality & TourismIndustrial DevelopmentInfrastructure DevelopmentMedia

Honouring Cultural Heritage


ArchitectureHistoric CitiesMuseumMusicParks & Gardens
Where We Work

North America


CanadaUnited States of America

Europe


FrancePortugalSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom

Eastern Africa


Kenya MadagascarMozambiqueRwandaTanzaniaUganda

West Africa


Burkina FasoCôte d’IvoireMaliSenegal

Middle East


EgyptSyriaUnited Arab Emirates

Central Asia


AfghanistanKazakhstanKyrgyz RepublicTajikistan

South Asia


BangladeshIndiaPakistan

East Asia


MalaysiaSingapore

North America


CanadaUnited States of America

Europe


FrancePortugalSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom

Eastern Africa


Kenya MadagascarMozambiqueRwandaTanzaniaUganda

West Africa


Burkina FasoCôte d’IvoireMaliSenegal

Middle East


EgyptSyriaUnited Arab Emirates

Central Asia


AfghanistanKazakhstanKyrgyz RepublicTajikistan

South Asia


BangladeshIndiaPakistan

East Asia


MalaysiaSingapore
How We Work

Our Approach


Our Approach to DevelopmentOur Ethical FrameworkFrequently Asked Questions

Our Agencies


Aga Khan Health ServicesAga Khan Agency for HabitatAga Khan FoundationAga Khan SchoolsAga Khan UniversityUniversity of Central AsiaAga Khan Trust for CultureAga Khan Agency for MicrofinanceAga Khan Fund for Economic Development

Our Approach


Our Approach to DevelopmentOur Ethical FrameworkFrequently Asked Questions

Our Agencies


Aga Khan Health ServicesAga Khan Agency for HabitatAga Khan FoundationAga Khan SchoolsAga Khan UniversityUniversity of Central AsiaAga Khan Trust for CultureAga Khan Agency for MicrofinanceAga Khan Fund for Economic Development
Resources and Media

News & Stories


Our StoriesProject SpotlightsNews ReleasesEventsAKDN in the Media

Multimedia


VideosPhotographs

Resources


SpeechesPublicationsThe Learning Hub

News & Stories


Our StoriesProject SpotlightsNews ReleasesEventsAKDN in the Media

Multimedia


VideosPhotographs

Resources


SpeechesPublicationsThe Learning Hub
Get Involved
Work with AKDNDonate
SubscribeInternational Scholarship Programme
Contact Us
Work with AKDN
Donate
Subscribe
International Scholarship Programme
Contact Us
en
PortuguêsFrançaisEnglish
Resources and Media/News & Stories/Project Spotlights /AKF partners with IUCN to support community-led conservation in northern Mozambique

AKF partners with IUCN to support community-led conservation in northern Mozambique

Aga Khan Foundation

Mozambique · 28 March 2023 · 3 min

The LEAP project will work with four coastal communities in Metuge to improve livelihoods and reduce pressure on natural coastal resources.

Safira Chirindza, AKF Mozambique

languageSwitcherThis page is also available in

Email

In Mozambique, around 80 percent of livelihoods depend on natural resources. With nearly 20 million people living in coastal regions, many of these livelihoods rely on the marine resources provided by the Western Indian Ocean. Employment opportunities along the country’s coastline are limited; most communities rely on artisanal fishing and felling trees and mangroves to produce firewood and charcoal. However, the increasing frequency and intensity of floods, cyclones, and droughts caused by climate change is placing enormous pressure on the local marine environment, and in turn, Mozambique’s coastal populations.


Drawing on over 20 years of experience in community development work in Mozambique, and particularly in environmental conservation and climate resilience, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is partnering with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) through the Locally Empowered Area Protection (LEAP) project. Together, they are supporting communities in coastal areas to learn and adopt diverse sustainable livelihoods and conservation strategies, ensuring the long-term preservation of biodiversity and natural marine resources along this stretch of coastline.


The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and the International Climate Initiative. According to Hirondina Mondlane, Programme Coordinator of AKF in Mozambique, LEAP “will promote the integration of displaced communities without endangering the environment, helping them to find alternative livelihoods in a sustainable way”.


These ecosystems protect shorelines and underpin fisheries. Mangroves also bury 8.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. 

Safira Chirindza, AKF Mozambique

The LEAP project will draw lessons from a recent AKF project on Mozambique Island, Nampula province, that has seen the successful replanting and protection of mangroves by members of the local community. Rather than cutting down the trees for charcoal and firewood, local groups – mostly led by women – are now keeping honeybees in the mangroves, providing a sustainable source of income and supporting the local marine environment.


Taking a similar community-led approach to conservation and development, the LEAP project will work with four coastal communities in Metuge, Cabo Delgado province, to improve livelihoods while reducing pressure on natural resources. AKF will also support communities to build on their existing knowledge of conservation and livelihoods by sourcing technical knowledge from other AKF projects, technical consultants, and nearby communities.


This is the area of degraded mangrove forests to be restored by the communities in Metuge.

Safira Chirindza, AKF Mozambique

Knowledge sharing between communities will be integral. Communities in Metuge will have the opportunity to participate in exchanges with other communities that have been implementing similar activities for longer. For example, a local NGO called the Environmental Association has been leading similar work in the nearby Mecufi District, providing a real-life example to the people of Metuge of how community-led conservation can be successful in the coastal context.


During the inception workshop, IUCN and partners visited an existing AKF project. Here, AKF shared its experience working with community-based organisations to promote civil society, local development and sustainable livelihoods.

International Union for Conservation of Nature

During the inception workshop, IUCN and partners visited an existing AKF project. Here, AKF shared its experience working with community-based organisations to promote civil society, local development and sustainable livelihoods. International Union for Conservation of Nature


Representatives visited some of the communities in Metuge to speak with community members who already implement sustainable livelihood practices using local means, such as the production of organic pesticides, mulch and crop association. The project will utilise existing community structures, including village development organisations and community fisheries councils, to integrate effective conservation practices and innovations into local development plans. These organisations are the beating heart of communities, collecting and consolidating the needs and priorities of all community members and acting as community representatives in important dialogues with external partners such as the government, NGOs and the private sector.


The LEAP project will support both host community members and internally displaced people, aiming to reach more than 2,000 people. The provincial government will be an important partner, working closely with communities to support their conservation actions. Ultimately, the project is aligned with AKDN’s environment and climate change plan, which seeks responsible stewardship of the environment while improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable.


Tags

MozambiqueAga Khan FoundationAgriculture and Food SecurityEconomic DevelopmentEducationFinancial inclusionHabitatHistoric CitiesHospitality and TourismHumanitarian AssistanceHealth and Nutrition
Spotlights

Latest Spotlights

See More

No Result Found
No Result FoundNo Result Found

See Also

akdn_footer_1a.pngakdn-footer-1c.png

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. Our multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Contact Us
sm-facebook-grey.pngsm-twitter-grey.pngsm-instagram-grey.pngsm-youtube-grey.pngsm-linkedin-grey.png

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign UpContact Us
sm-facebook-grey.pngsm-twitter-grey.pngsm-instagram-grey.pngsm-youtube-grey.pngsm-linkedin-grey.png

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign UpContact Us

Quick Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Stories

Work with AKDN

Donate

Who We Are

Founder & Chairman

Our Partners

Awards

Fact Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

What We Do

WHERE WE WORK

Our Agencies

AKHS Aga Khan Health Services

AKAH Aga Khan Agency for Habitat

AKF Aga Khan Foundation

AKS Aga Khan Schools

AKU Aga Khan University

UCA University of Central Asia

AKTC Aga Khan Trust for Culture

AKAM Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance

AKFED Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development

  • Quick Links
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Our Stories
  • Work with AKDN
  • Donate
Who We Are
What We Do
WHERE WE WORK
Our Agencies

© 1967 - 2023 Aga Khan Foundation, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network. All rights reserved.

Terms & Conditions·Privacy Policy·Cookie Notice