UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative

Please download the PEI Country fact sheet on Mozambique(PDF)

Basic facts of the PEI in Mozambique

• The PEI Mozambique programme Phase II runs from April 2008 to December 2012.
• The overall objective of the first phase of the programme (September 2005-March 2008) was to strengthen environmental policy and management capacity at the national and local levels as a contribution to poverty alleviation and sustainable development. 
• The current focus of PEI Mozambique is on medium term needs as formulated in the national development plans (PARPA 2 and PARP) with an emphasis on building capacity for sound environmental management at the local, district, and national level and improving the knowledge base on sustainable management of natural resources and its role for development and pro-poor growth.
• PEI II is a joint Government of Mozambique, UNDP Mozambique and UNEP programme. The main national partners include as lead agencies the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs and the Ministry of Planning and Development, as well as the ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Energy, Health, Mineral Resources, Public Works, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, and Ministry of Finance.
• Donors who funded PEI I included the Government of Belgium and the Government of Norway (through UNEP). The Government of Ireland (through UNEP) is providing all funds for the second phase activities.
• The total budget is close to USD 3 million: USD 566,145 (2005-2008) and USD 2,428,000 (2008-2012).

The context of poverty-environment mainstreaming in Mozambique

• Mozambique's second Poverty Reduction strategy (PRSP), the 'National Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty' (PARPA 2), was completed in 2006 and covers the period 2006-2009. The revised third PRSP (PARP) runs from 2011 to 2014 and integrated environment as one of eight cross-cutting issues. 
• The Government prepares an annual Economic and Social Plan (PES) to guide the implementation of the PARPA. PEI Mozambique aims to build capacity of government, national, provincial and district level to integrate environment into Economic and Social Plans.
• In 2010, the national report on the Millennium Development Goals highlighted poor but improving progress towards achieving MDG 7. The Government of Mozambique reacted by outlining that the use of natural resources has to fulfil the basic needs of the people and development of the nation needs to be in equilibrium with economic growth, technology development, environmental protection and social equity.
• Mozambique is one of the eight One UN pilot countries. The '2012 – 2015 UNDAF' has incorporated a country programme outcome on natural resource management within the Economic Pillar.

Main activities

• Undertake analytical studies that draw upon existing available data to improve awareness about poverty-environment linkages. 
• Assess key sector policy and planning frameworks (including PARP and PES) to identify poverty-environment linkages, gaps and institutional capacity to address these.
• Support integration of environment into the province and district strategic and operational plans.
• Train central and local government staff on the importance of poverty-environment linkages to economic development and poverty reduction.
• Conduct training and develop capacity for selected sectors and support sectors in applying simplified Strategic Environmental Assessment and integrated economic-environmental appraisals to ongoing policy and legislative processes.
• Develop capacity on poverty – environment linkages of Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs and Ministry of Planning and Development involved in Medium-Term Expenditure Review and Public Expenditure Review in key sectors.
• Develop strategic plan for improved financing for environmental investments (e.g. user fees and royalties).
• Develop a communication strategy to raise awareness about the links between poverty and environment.
• Support the integration of environment into the formal curriculum in schools.
• Develop opportunities and mechanisms for coordination between the Government of Mozambique and key development partners to support environmental priorities across sectors.

 What has been achieved to date?

• During the first programme phase, PEI supported the second Poverty Reduction Strategy, titled 'National Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty' (PARPA 2) successfully through a Reflection Working Group, which identified sector needs to address environmental issues as well as Strategic Development Plans at provincial level. The reflection working group was also successful in bringing together all key actors relevant for mainstreaming environment in PARPA 2, which helped the evaluation of PARPA 2 and oriented the next PARP (2011-2014) to have environment recognised as a main pillar. 
• Importance of environmental mainstreaming recognised in PARP (2011 – 2014). The PEI Team participated in the preparation of an Environmental Sector as well as Cross Cutting Issue report, which both fed into the PARP.
• Throughout 2009 - 2011, PEI Mozambique supported the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs in developing and applying a 'Mainstreaming Matrix', a tool for mainstreaming cross-cutting issues (focusing on environment and climate change). As a result, in 2011, the Ministry of Planning and Development provided uniform guidance to all sectors in all provinces regarding the importance, processes and priorities for mainstreaming cross-cutting issues, making use of the Matrix tool. In addition, the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs managed to mobilize significant resources to support environmental activities in key sectors and at the province/district level making use of the Matrix tool.
• Improved capacity for mainstreaming cross-cutting issues at provincial and sectoral levels. As part of the preparation of the annual Economic and Social Plan 2012, the Ministry of Planning and Development provided training to 495 planners of provincial planning and sector provincial directorates in all provinces on mainstreaming cross-cutting issues. As the result, the initial analysis of PES 2012 shows that at least eleven sectors have incorporated relevant activities in their sector plans.
• Improved levels of coordination and dialogue between key relevant institutions involved in environmental mainstreaming, such as between the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs and the sector ministries.
• The national knowledge base has been expanded by undertaking an economic assessment of economic gains of investing in sustainable management of natural resources for pro-poor growth. The study particularly focuses on the Agriculture and Forestry, Fisheries and Health Sectors. A draft report has been presented to decision makers and planners to increase their engagement and understanding of the importance of investing in sustainable environmental management for poverty reduction and development. Moreover, awareness has been raised among key sectors of the cost of mismanagement of natural resources in Mozambique.
• Environment mainstreaming capacities strengthened at district level. Approximately 150 district planners from Cabo Delgado, Gaza and Zambezia were trained and improved their skills for environmental mainstreaming in district development plans.
• Strong involvement in the development of the UNDAF (2012 – 2015) has resulted in mainstreaming environment and poverty-environment linkages in the new UNDP Country Programme Document.
• Improved understanding of the environmental mainstreaming status and needs. A widely disseminated PEI-led study on the mainstreaming of environmental issues into sector Economic and Social Plan identifies recommendations on how agriculture, energy, health, mining, public works, tourism and fisheries sectors can improve environmental mainstreaming. Moreover, a review of institutional linkages between the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs and the national planning and policy-making processes has been conducted to identify entry points for strengthening the inclusion of environmental mainstreaming in these processes.
• Workshops for governments, civil society, private sector and journalists on poverty-environment linkages have led to an improved understanding. A teacher's manual on sustainable development has been developed to be used in primary schools nationwide.
• Increased awareness among national stakeholders: PEI supported the Environmental Promotion Directorate in the preparation of three newspaper supplements in the main national newspaper Noticias with articles about ecosystem services, water, and biodiversity. Moreover, 15 radio programs on sustainable development were developed and broadcasted on local radio stations in Portuguese and local languages.
• Implementation of demonstration projects. PEI is supporting the implementation of nine smaller projects implemented by local organisations to demonstrate the positive contribution that better environmental management can bring to local development. The projects are carried out in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Zambezia and Gaza.

Lessons learned

• Strengthening the collaboration with permanent structures, e.g. a key agency such as the Ministry of Planning and Development, has proved critical, as ad-hoc structures such as working groups (e.g. the Reflection working group for the National Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty) dissolve and momentum get lost again.
• The engagement of the Ministry of Planning and Development as lead agency has been key in developing successfully a widely used matrix tool for environment mainstreaming and engaging sector and provincial government agencies.
• The establishment of a joint task team of various government agency representatives to give strategic direction and technical inputs to the programme has proved essential.
• The importance of developing long-term capacities with national institutions in order to achieve sustainable results.
• Improving coordination and communication within and between government institutions is critical for mainstreaming. For example, increasing the collaboration between environment and macro-economic sector partners is essential. Strategically targeting policy makers in the sectors is also important.

Way forward

• Improve the capacity within seven key sectors on poverty-environment linkages and environment as a cross-cutting issue.
• In 2012, PEI will concentrate efforts to improve financing for environmental investments through a Public Environmental Expenditure Review, a Study of Economic Instruments and an Environmental Economic Assessment to further lobby for improved financing to poverty-environment priorities and environmentally sustainable investments in Mozambique, as well as to optimise the use of economic instruments through fiscal reforms.
• Continue to engage the Ministry of Finance in the mainstreaming of poverty environment linkages in the planning process and increased budget allocations.
• Continue awareness raising activities, targeting particularly parliamentarians and policy makers in key sectors.
• Work together with other partners on environment and poverty-environment indicators development.
• Collaborate further n the UNDP Greening Human Development Project.