Over the past decade, the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) has provided access to climate finance for local governments changing the lives of millions in Mozambique. Designed to strengthen the capacity of local governments to provide resilient basic services and build climate-adapted infrastructure, LoCAL strengthens local governance processes as well as listens to the voices and needs of communities, building up on their local knowledge through an inclusive and participatory approach. Approximately 100 adaptive development infrastructures have been financed during the implementation of LoCAL in Mozambique since 2014. These include health clinics, maternity wards, schools, water supply and desalination systems, as well as support for resilient livelihoods.

With the generous support from Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, the European Union and the Region of Catalonia, LoCAL has already directly benefited approximately three million people in the country - almost 10% of the Mozambican population.
Discover some of their stories and how Mozambique is leading climate adaptation.

“LoCAL is health” - Maria Pedro, Funhalouro district.

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

Forty-two to ninety-five kilometres. These were the distances traveled by the citizens of the community of Cupo, in the district of Funhalouro, Province of Inhambane, to access the nearest health centre.

“Getting sick was almost forbidden”, said Maria Pedro, 32 years old, one of more than 3,000 people benefiting from the new Health Centre in Cupo that opened in 2022, with the presence of the First Lady of Mozambique.

“To get medical care, those who could afford it went to hire donkeys and carts to transport family members; Pregnant women were the ones who suffered the most, but the population's problems are over, now that we have a health centre right here in Cupo”, Maria Pedro said with joy.

More than 30 health clinics and maternity wards resilient to climate change have been built with LoCAL support in Mozambique.

“LoCAL is participation” – Carlos Cambula, Jangamo district

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

“Listening to the concerns of the population and giving them space to participate will make us find the right solutions”, affirmed Carlos Cambula, 38-year-old Chief of Cumbana Locality in Jangamo district, Inhambane Province.

Carlos Cambula takes pride in how the local consultative council have the representation of the whole community: ''We have men, women, the elderly, youth, businesspeople, teachers, nurses, all from different social strata and ages, chosen by the community members themselves.”

Through local consultative councils, community members decide on their own climate-resilient investments. First, local communities are engaged in what they consider to be their greatest needs, then proposals are forwarded to local and then provincial administrations.

“Here in Cumbana, we have decided on prioritizing water and sanitation; but for me, as part of the local government, listening to the communities and fostering their direct participation in local governance processes are the best things that LoCAL has supported us with,” affirmed Carlos.

“LoCAL is infrastructure” – Vitória António, Panda district

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

“Even though the new school block has not been formally opened, the impact of the support received is visible in the motivation and quality of teaching of students at this school,” said Vitória António, 52-year-old Director of Mobique Elementary School since 2020.

“The rooms in the new block have a board to put all the information on, air enters easily, the temperature is cooler, and the pupil comes from home clean and goes back clean.” This is in stark contrast to the former makeshift school blocks made of mud and aluminium sheets as a roof under average scorching temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius.

The new school blocks will benefit more than 1,000 students in the Mobique community, Panda district, Inhambane Province. “Now, all students have the chance to build their own future through access to education”, affirmed Vitória. “As school director, I am very emotional to see this new infrastructure in the school; I am sure that these kids will have a brighter future.”

“LoCAL is peace” - Manuel*, Machanga District

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

From a young age, Manuel* fought for the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) and lived in one of its bases in Serra da Gorongosa. There, he was known as Parakeet*. At the base, he was trained, took up arms and worked in the field with his fellow soldiers. Now, 43 years later, he is one of thousands of former RENAMO combatants participating in the “disarmament, demobilization and reintegration” (DDR) process.

Parakeet * returned to his place of origin, contributing to the development of his community through his participation in the local consultative council of his home district of Machanga, Sofala Province. As part of his new role as a member of the local consultative council, Parakeet*, together with his peers, discusses the community's local priorities.

“First, I voted for water wells, then for seed kits, then for the fish market and the fishermen’s mooring bridges”, said Parakeet*.

With the support of the Local Development for the Consolidation of Peace Programme, which uses the LoCAL methodology, local development plays a fundamental role in consolidating peace in Mozambique. For him “peace is a difficult thing to maintain, it depends on us”. Through the LoCAL methodology, he believes that peace has a better chance of success. “It is important to develop the entire community, to listen to the entire community, to reduce and avoid injustices and conflicts,” he said.

*Name has been changed.

“LoCAL is job creation” – Joaquim Domingos, Gorongosa district

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

Joaquim Domingos, 30 years old, got his first formal job last year. Father of two children, he dreams of the benefits that peace will continue to bring to his community in Pungué, Gorongosa district, Mozambique. Like others living in central Mozambique, he hopes peace will bring schools, hospitals, roads and better jobs for everyone in the region.

Joaquim now works in construction, building resilient water system towers, pumping stations and an electrical grid for his community thanks to the use of the LoCAL methodology in the DELPAZ Programme. Alongside his family, he celebrates having this opportunity as a means of livelihood and improved access to public services.

“I am sure that new jobs will come in the future and that my children will also be employed – All of this is because of this project that came with peace,” affirmed Joaquim. “I guarantee that my children will have much more than I had; Peace is the best thing that happened to Pungué,” he continued.

“LoCAL is a better future for more children” – Violeta Alexandre, Zavala district

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

Violeta Alexandre and her husband Pedro harvest vegetables in their field in Chivimbire, Zavala district, in Inhambane Province. With the support of LoCAL, community members now have access to resilient livelihoods through technical support and an irrigation system for their crops.

“When I arrive in the field, I do the transplanting of seedlings first and then I help my husband working in the field,” said Violeta. With the new technics she learned, her production has increased three folds. “Now, we are able to grow parsley, cucumber, coriander and other crops we didn’t grow before that we can sell in the market,” she continued.

“With the demonstrations of how to make meals more nutritious, I am cooking healthier food, our kids are eating better, they are not getting sick so often,” she affirmed. “I can even save some money now that I will use to put my children through education”.

With LoCAL support, investments in resilient livelihoods strengthen local economies and local food systems, making communities healthier and more sustainable.

“LoCAL is water” - Adolfo Chivande, Chokwe district

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

Adolfo Chivande, local leader, proudly stands in front of the recently inaugurated water supply and desalination system in the Macaretane community, Chokwe district, Gaza Province, built through LoCAL with financial support from Sweden.

The community is located in a semi-arid region affected by a severe drought. “Before this water system, all we knew was suffering”, he commented. “When it didn’t rain, people from the main city came here to sell us water at a high price; In other cases, we ended up going to the side of the road where there is a small pond, and together with the animals, we used the same stagnant water to drink.’’

The water supply system infrastructure was inaugurated just before the COVID-19 pandemic started. “Without this access to water, we couldn’t even wash our hands, we wouldn’t have been able to cope with the pandemic”. Adding: “Now, our children don’t get sick, and we do not need to worry about water - Everyone has a faucet at home”.

“LoCAL is community” - Bajulino Nhamavende, Zavala district

Credit: UNCDF Mozambique

“We decided to come together as a community and create this fish farming association, it was a long dream of ours,” commented 29-year-old Bajulino Nhamavende. Like many young people in Quissico community, Bajulino hoped for a livelihood opportunity. With the decision of the local consultative council to prioritize tools and assets for the creation of the community association, the whole community can now look at their future with hope.

“In 2023, we managed to sell our fish for the whole year, even in the rainy season”, said Bajulino. The Quissico fish farming association sold approximately 500kg of fish per month last year. “With our profits, we are investing money to improve our lives, help our children go to school and buy school supplies, pay for energy and we now even eat fish regularly, which improves our children’s health.”

With strengthened livelihood opportunities, community members see the value of being active members of their local consultative councils. “I was the representative of my community in the local consultative council, and I suggested to all that we could invest in fish farming,” recalled Bajulino.

Through LoCAL, the local governments listen to the voices and needs of communities and prove that they can support their populations through a decentralized decision-making process designed by Mozambicans for Mozambicans.

Find out more about LoCAL here

Sign up to our newsletter