Coastal Livelihoods and Climate Resilience (CLCR) Project

The Coastal Livelihoods and Climate Resilience (CLCR) project is funded by the Millenium Challenge Account as part of the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC)’s Mozambique Connectivity and Coastal Resilience Compact. The Compact aims to address climate risks such as frequent and increasingly intense cyclones, flooding, and natural, through projects that will strengthen local economies that are reliant upon agriculture and fisheries yet limited by connectivity and reliable access. In partnership with MCC, the Government of Mozambique has identified the Zambezia province as a target area for investment.

The Compact comprises three projects, one of which is the Coastal Livelihoods and Climate Resilience (CLCR) Project which is implemented by two Lead Partners, BIOFUND and ProAzul. ACDI/VOCA is a subawardee to ProAzul.

The project started on May 24, 2024, and is divided into two phases: one for start-up and conduct assessments for an estimated duration of 18 months, and another that follows it for five years of implementation.

Project Objectives

The objective of the CLCR Project is to sustainably increase the productivity and resilience of coastal ecosystems in Mozambique. To achieve the expected objective, the CLCR Project will focus on three thematic areas:

An enabling institutional and regulatory environment
Sustainably enhanced ecosystem productivity and climate resilience
Sustainable coastal livelihoods with resilient community benefits

Project Activities

During Phase 1, ACDI/VOCA will help lead partners to conduct several assessments, including a Food Systems assessment, Market Dynamics Assessment, and Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion Assessment, among others. During Phase 2, ACDI/VOCA will be leading activities in the Sustainable coastal livelihoods with resilient community benefits thematic area, including:

MaisPeixe to support grant program design, help create new grant windows, crowd-in additional capital to the grant fund, and enable more businesses to access and successfully implement grants.
MaisNegócio, to support the provincial government of Zambézia, develop blue and green value chains, by using evidence in decision-making, dialoguing with market actors, and improving the business environment for blue/green firms to grow and thrive.
MaisAzul, to create alternative livelihoods in blue value chains while at the same time mitigating practices that are not sustainable or destructive to habits and species.
MaisVerde, to create alternative livelihoods in green value chains while at the same time mitigating practices that are not sustainable or destructive to habits and species
MaisVoz, to shift behaviors and the mindsets of local communities on natural resource management and value chain governance.

Anticipated Project Results

Restoration and sustainable management of coastal and marine resources
Increased marine protected areas
Gender-inclusive, socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and resilient livelihoods, including increased sustainable offtake of natural resources for home consumption
Implementation of funds to support artisanal fishers transitioning from beach seine gear to more selective gears
Enhanced institutional capacity for specified government departments and partners to implement the legal framework
Development of innovative sustainable financing mechanisms for conservation