Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building of Milk Cooperatives in Manica

Client – DGRV
Location – Manica – Mozambique
Year – 2013 – 2015
Time – 2 years

Assistance, Training and Institutional Capacity Building of 4 cooperatives for a total of 250 members to assist cooperatives in the development of a more profitable and socially and environmentally sustainable cooperative.

The cooperatives have received technical assistance from the Cooperative Union of American Cooperatives (UCLA) and Land O’Lakes since 2008. This assistance was provided to DANMOZ, a yogurt and cheese producer in Manica, who have been instrumental in promoting the establishment of these cooperatives. . Assistance from UCLA and Land O’Lakes will continue until the end of the year. Verde Azul’s assistance aims to form cooperatives in a sustainable manner. The project was extended at the end of 2014, to include the establishment of a cooperative union that will provide services to the others, such as: milk collection, milk conservation centers, sales negotiations, etc. The work involved assistance in defining strategic plans and developing operational business plans for each cooperative.

ANGELIQUE – Mapping the Future Expansion of the Energy Supply

Client – EDM, “Angelique”
Location – Cabo Delgado and Nampula
Year – 2015
Time – 2.5 months in development

This project has the following components:

1. Survey of potential consumers of electricity, so that with this work, it is intended to locate potential consumers and identify who is already consuming electricity, this methodology is done with a GPS and digitally;
2. Topographic description of the areas where the implementation of medium voltage lines and posts is planned.

This project will be implemented in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado.

Preparation of Support for the Millennium Challenge to Environmental and Social Projects in Northern Mozambique

Client – Ministry of the Environment and UNIDO / MICOA
Location – Northern Mozambique
Year – 2010
Time – 1 year

Verde Azul was contracted by UNIDO / MICOA to support the Government of Mozambique in the preparation of the US-funded grant to Mozambique, under the Millennium Challenge Corporation initiative.

This was a process that started in 2004, when Mozambique was chosen as a candidate for an MCC preparation. The projects were approved in 2009-2010 for a total of USD 500 million.

The work was coordinated by the local unit of the Millennium Challenge Account – MCA, with the main objective of reviewing the project portfolio in terms of national and international legal scope (MCC, GoM and World Bank good environmental, social and resettlement practices), as well as categorize projects into classes of Environmental Assessments (related to the impact and need for environmental and social mitigation measures).

Propose actions to achieve the goals, as well as the elaboration of memoranda of understanding with the various government implementation units (ANE, FIPAG, MICOA, DNAIA, DINACOT).

One of the central points was to ensure that the project portfolio could be implemented and completed within 5 years.

Verde Azul worked with several institutions and due diligence teams.

Verde Azul carried out the review of preliminary studies and assistance in the preparation and initial design phase of the Compact’s environmental and social components.

Verde Azul worked with MICOA to prepare a training plan and helped identify human resource training programs that would be suitable for MCA-supported provinces (Niassa, Nampula, Zambézia and Cabo Delgado).

Technical Assistance for Reducing Bureaucracy for CTA in Mozambique

Client – SIDA
Location – Mozambique
Year – 2003 – 2007
Time – 5 years

Verde Azul provided technical support services to the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) to reduce bureaucracy barriers and promote business relations between Mozambique and the Nordic countries over a period of 5 years. The financial support involved by CTA was around USD 1.6 million, this funding being applied with the aim of reducing poverty through job creation and business growth.

It had 4 immediate objectives:

1) Strengthen the CTA;

2) Public promotion of private initiatives;

3) Create and strengthen the Arbitration Center;

4) Provide Project Management and Coordination;

Verde Azul coordinated the project and supported fund management.

Verde Azul made sure that the procurement of goods and services complied with AIDS rules and regulations. Verde Azul held regular strategic meetings with the client and the financiers.

This project allowed CTA to find solutions to reduce by 25% the existing barriers identified by investors, as the main obstacles to a good business environment.

Inclusive Economic Growth through the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Niassa Province: Malonda Program

Client – Government of Niassa and SIDA
Location – Niassa – Mozambique
Year – 2000 – 2007
Time – 7 years

Verde Azul was instrumental in the development and management of the Malonda Program, a private sector development program in the province of Niassa, Mozambique. The program was funded by the Government of Mozambique and the Swedish Cooperation Agency for International Development.

Verde Azul presented proposals to subsequently establish a sustainable institutional structure for the Malonda Program.

The Malonda Foundation established as essential services in its area of activity: providing support to local communities by increasing the efficiency of companies related to reducing barriers to bureaucracy; risk and transactions established at the Malonda Foundation.

During the management of Verde Azul, five forestry companies were certified by FSC, which started operations in Niassa, in partnership with Malonda. They are currently implementing a planned management to reforest more than 500,000 ha of degraded land. More than 3,000 new direct jobs have been created by 2007. This path is expected to continue in order to reach at least 15,000 new jobs within ten years. From here, the implementation of several companies took place and the railroad was restructured.

A large protected area of 110,000 ha has been created, Monte Mosale, which is important for the protection of ecosystems and the biodiversity of the province.

Responsibilities included: design, execution, coordination, monitoring and planning, regular performance assessment (operational and financial) and reorientation of activities. It also involved identifying investment opportunities in collaboration with the Provincial Government and promoting investments and business negotiations with investors and stakeholders in Forestry, Agriculture, Tourism and Wildlife.

Subsequently, communities were assisted in how to plan the use of their land by external and independent experts, and VA also provided legal support. The communities decided to relinquish some of their rights in favor of implementing commercial establishments in exchange for job creation and infrastructure development.

Verde Azul developed a model for the recognition of collective rights and the communities were brought into direct relations with investors.

The process was implemented with the support of FAO, Fundação Aga Khan, TechnoServe and with independent experts such as Sevy Madureira do Brasil and Christopher Tanner from FAO providing guidance and support throughout the process.

The process for obtaining the right to use the land was implemented in accordance with the Mozambican land law (published in 1997).

Furthermore, it focused on a process of Free and Informed Consent regarding the delimitation of all areas that legally belong to local communities, as well as prioritizing the mapping of areas with high conservation value.

The Malonda strategy focused on respect for indigenous communities and their right to make informed and inclusive decisions. Local communities were encouraged to take charge of the speed and negotiation process in the various debates that led to the creation of the Malonda Foundation.

A Malonda Resource Center was opened in Maputo and a headquarters in Lichinga was created. Once the institutions were legalized and the board of directors held their first meetings, Verde Azul delivered the program to be carried out by the Administration and by an executive director and his team.

Production of Unrefined Organic Sugar and Sugar Cane in Cabo Delgado Province

Client – Ouro Verde, Lda
Location – Cabo Delgado – Mozambique
Year – 2012 – 2015
Time – 3.5 years

Verde Azul developed, in the province of Cabo Delgado, a commercial project, of small size of sugar cane, vertically integrated.

This project was initiated through research studies on varieties of sweet sorghum and sugar cane for a Swedish investor in the area of Bioenergy. The work carried out by Verde Azul involved the following actions:

• the selection of a suitable location;
• the development of the feasibility study;
• the mobilization of personnel and training;
• application of land, water, environment and other licenses;
• certification of the area by ECOCERT for the production of sugarcane and sweet sorghum, as well as other seeds;
• the processing of organic sugar;
• pre-certification by the RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials);
• identification of investment partners;
• funding requests and grant mobilization;
• presentation of business plans and implementation of the project in coordination with AGRICANE (a South African consulting group specialized in the production of sugarcane and with a long history in Mozambique).

In December 2014, sugarcane seed plantations of various varieties suitable for the location had already been established and the factory was completed so that the first batches of sugar tests could already be produced.