The intervention will take place in the city of Quelimane, capital of the province of Zambezia, the second most populous province in Mozambique and one of the poorest provinces in the country. According to data from the World Bank, more than half of the population lives below the poverty line.

The area’s economy is predominantly based on the agricultural sector, but the adoption of traditional techniques, which are not very resilient to climate change and not very sustainable from an environmental point of view, is detrimental and is the main cause of the progressive impoverishment of the soils, resulting in lower fertility and productivity. Low productivity, in turn, combined with the consequent investment of producers on a limited number of crops, has decreased nutritional diversification, putting food security at risk.

Finally, the area is affected by a progressive migration from the countryside to the cities, in view of greater job opportunities.

The project aims to contribute to the area’s security and food sustainability through the promotion of agro-ecological practices, reforestation actions and exchanges aimed at creating greater resilience and adaptation in the face of climate change, mitigating its impact.

The project envisages the creation of agro-ecological nurseries, commercial gardens, fairs, urban reforestation actions and active citizenship education activities through exchanges that will take place between Mozambique and Italy, in order to foster food and environmental sustainability in the city of Quelimane.

The project will involve councillors and administrators from the Quelimane municipality as well as 150 primary school pupils for environmental education activities.

• Creation of two urban gardens and a well to ensure their water supply, the management of which will be entrusted to a group of 20 young people who will receive theoretical and practical training sessions focusing on topics such as agroecology, associationism and marketing.
• Creation of a nursery for the production of horticultural plants to be marketed among farmers in the area. The nursery will be run by an additional group of 20 young producers who will receive specific training sessions on the subject.
• Organisation of two agro-ecological fairs to facilitate producers’ access to city markets.
• Redevelopment of the composting centre and the Quelimane municipal nursery, areas that will be used for environmental education courses for schools.
• Urban reforestation interventions in four different areas of the city.
• Awareness-raising on the adoption of preventive measures against Covid-19 and distribution of protective equipment.
• With regard to the exchange of good practices between Mozambique and Italy, online discussion sessions will be organised between the city of Quelimane and the city of Reggio-Emilia, on issues such as the development and management of urban green areas, especially on the development of urban cycle paths (the city of Quelimane is known in Mozambique for the high number of bicycles circulating). Collaboration and exchange of experiences will also continue with the activity of the Mani Tese Finale Emilia Social Garden to promote food sovereignty and self-production in urban areas.