New Initiatives to Generate Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs, Young People, and Smallholder Farmers in Mozambique
Two projects will build on TechnoServe’s decades of impact in the country
Maputo — The international nonprofit organization TechnoServe has announced the launch of two programs designed to create economic opportunities in Mozambique. Collectively, the programs—which will work with smallholder farmers, young people, and female entrepreneurs—will benefit thousands of people across the country.
Catalisa: Opportunities for young people and farmers in Cabo Delgado
The Catalisa program is a five-year, $10 million initiative of the Anadarko-led Mozambique-LNG project, implemented by TechnoServe. The program is focused on stimulating local economic development in Cabo Delgado, a remote northern region that faces high rates of poverty and unemployment. To address these challenges, Catalisa is working with local agribusinesses and other partners to create more profitable markets for local vegetable and poultry farmers and increase the supply of locally produced food. The program will deliver agronomy training to help farmers improve their productivity and the quality of their crops and will facilitate access to finance so that farmers can make needed investments on their farms.
The program is also providing training to youth in the district of Palma, enabling them to learn personal effectiveness and basic business skills that will help them prepare to enter the job market or start their own businesses. Catalisa will benefit 2,000 people across the region.
WIN: Improving markets for low-income women
A five-year, $7 million partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the Women IN Business (WIN) program is helping to improve the economic opportunities for women through entrepreneurship. The program will take a facilitative approach, working with companies, the public sector, and civil society to generate large-scale, positive, and lasting change in parts of the economy where women play a major role. Following a research phase that examined a number of opportunities for growth, the project is focused on supporting female entrepreneurs through access to reliable inputs, equipment and financial services, among others . WIN is expected to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of women across the country.
These programs build on TechnoServe’s extensive experience in Mozambique. TechnoServe has worked in the country since 1998, supporting entrepreneurs and farmers in a number of sectors, ranging from cashews to soybeans to poultry. In 2018 alone, the organization’s programs helped more than 26,000 people and businesses across Mozambique to earn nearly $7.5 million of additional income.
“TechnoServe is deeply committed to inclusive growth and development in Mozambique,” said Jane Grob, TechnoServe’s country director. “We are excited to expand the reach of our programs and help foster positive change to new sectors.”
About TechnoServe
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. Operating in 29 countries, we help grow strong markets that create income and jobs in developing communities. By linking people to information, capital and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities. With 50 years of proven results, TechnoServe believes in the power of enterprise to transform lives.
