Training on Environmental Impact Assessments

Client – USAID
Location – Mozambique and Angola
Year – 2005 – 2007
Time – 17 months

Verde Azul was the main facilitator and responsible for training government officials and NGOs, under the coordination of SUN MOUNTAIN, a private company.

Verde Azul carried out a survey of training needs assessment in Mozambique, to evaluate the appropriate curricular training courses for USAID Reg. 216, for environmental impact studies.

According to US regulations, all recipients of funds are required to follow reg. 216, and simultaneously adhere to national environmental regulations.

Training in both countries devoted much of the course to specific aspects of how to conduct environmental assessments and prepare environmental management plans.

The contents of the course were very broad, focusing on aspects from the design phase to the implementation of a project.

The curriculum was delivered in phases: one week of intensive training – each of them given three times over a period of 17 months.

These weeks of intensive training were then complemented with practical visits to the field, monitoring in the workplace (coaching) and environmental reports.

Analysis and Evaluation on Gender and HIV / AIDS and its Effects on Sustainable and Effective Economic Development (SEED)

Client – CARE Canada / CARE Vilanculos
Location – Mabote e Govuro – Inhambane Province – Mozambique
Year – 2006
Time – 2 months

This project was part of a broader program – SEED – which was developed by CARE International with the aim of reducing poverty and vulnerability by empowering farmers.

Verde Azul’s specific objective within this broad context was to identify the implications of gender inequality and HIV / AIDS in the implementation of the program.

Verde Azul’s specific tasks were to determine “to what extent the gender situation and HIV / AIDS could affect the program’s likelihood of success”, and to propose strategies to reduce risk within the program.

The ultimate long-term objective was to determine the effect of Gender and HIV / AIDS on sustainable and effective economic development in the province of Inhambane in Mozambique, and to propose risk mitigation measures, as well as an overall monitoring of the strategy.

Verde Azul collected the information necessary to understand and determine the likely impact of gender equality and HIV / AIDS on economic development in the geographic area covered.

Verde Azul designed the tools for field research and data collection, selecting the villages and the number of people to be involved in the sample, and this was discussed and commented on by the interested parties and subsequently approved by the relevant decision makers.

The Verde Azul team and Care Vilanculos visited the districts of Guvuro and Mabote, and worked with the target groups of SEED projects, involving the application of a method of Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) and discussions in focus groups.

The report included a summary and analysis of causes / effects, proposals for pragmatic actions and recommendations for addressing gender and HIV / AIDS issues during the implementation of the SEED project.

HIV / AIDS

Client – Provincial Nucleus to Fight AIDS
Location – Mozambique
Year – 2006
Time – 4 months

Verde Azul supported the Provincial Nucleus to Combat AIDS in each of the ten provinces of Mozambique to develop strategies and actions to mitigate the negative impacts of HIV / AIDS in rural areas.

Verde Azul’s recommendations resulted in the mobilization of materials and construction of houses for families who care for orphans and vulnerable groups, and also:

• Distribution of food for AIDS patients who are treated in their homes;
• Introduction and implementation of income generation activities in rural communities;
• Presentation of an action plan to mitigate the negative impacts of HIV / AIDS in rural areas;
• Elaboration and application of income generation activities in rural communities – based on existing experiences and market conditions in each operating location.

Situation Analysis of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Mozambique

Client – MMAS / UNICEF / USAID
Location – Mozambique
Year – 2004 – 2006
Time – 36 months

Verde Azul was contracted by SIAPAC Namibia, which carried out research for UNICEF, with the aim of:

1. Identify the strategies used by communities to deal with the impact of HIV / AIDS, in particular in relation to care for children;
2. Collect quantitative data on the global situation of children in the affected districts, as well as the specific situation of OVCs in the communities included in the survey. This included identifying families headed by children;
3. Qualitatively gather descriptive information about the social context in which OVCs live, including positive experiences, as well as cases of abandonment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse, and the denial of legal rights;
4. Identify the good practices used by service providers, government institutions and civil society organizations in response to the impact of HIV / AIDS on OVCs;
5. Identify obstacles related to responsibilities, resources, authorities and participation of caregivers, communities and service providers in fulfilling their obligations to OVC.

The basic precondition for the success of this research was: the effective involvement of inquirers from the structures of Social Action in field research and a broad and inclusive participation in the project to define methodologies and modalities for data collection. Efficient management and training of enumerators, supervisors and facilitators, management of quantitative field information and application of quantitative questionnaires.

The research involved:

• 75 communities in 15 districts in 10 provinces;
• 2250 quantitative questionnaires (interviews 35-55 minutes);
• 20 interviews with key national informants;
• 5 provincial meetings;
• 15 district meetings;
• 75 community meetings;
• 25 interviews with key informants at the local level;
• 20 focus group discussions;
• 10 case studies with orphans;
• 10 case studies with caregivers.

Responsibility for writing the reports in Portuguese and English, the connection with the main user – the Ministry of Women and Social Action (MMAS), and the presentation of the results to the Reference Group and in some broader participation seminars.

Use and Development of Rural Land Strategies for Food Security: At Lodge Covane, Canhane and Massingir

Client – Netherlands Partnership Program – FAO
Location – Massingir – Mozambique
Year – 2005 – 2006
Time – 6 months

The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed baseline analysis showing how the Covane Lodge (Eco-Tourism) in the Limpopo National Park affected the development and food security of the local economy, and to assess whether the observed results would have a chance to bring long-term development.

Verde Azul developed and presented a case study report, which led to new discoveries and revisions for the Limpopo National Park, and also resulted in changes in the National Rural Development Strategies in the area of Tourism.

The results were based on a collection of qualitative data from primary documents about Covane Community Lodge and the land delimitation process.

Of particular interest, in this “hands-on” approach to assessing the impact on rural livelihoods, is the importance of non-agricultural activities in rural families and communities.

Verde Azul concluded that crucial aspects include local participation in development planning and strategy, that there is a clear link between investment in the community and the increase in private property, and the creation of a market-oriented project accompanied by an improvement training and education and community involvement in tourism initiatives. The backbone, for this, is a well-developed and implemented communication strategy.

The project collected information through several actors:

a) A community-wide survey that served as the basis for a longitudinal survey over a period of 2 – 3 years and a field study carried out at the end of this process;
b) Interviews with key informants in Maputo, Gaza (Xai-Xai, Massingir and Canhane) and several meetings with six Canhane focus groups.

Construction and Installation of an Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center in Manjacaze – Gaza

Client – Jaipur LIMP Camping (British Organization)
Location – Mozambique
Year – 2005 – 2006
Time – 12 months

Verde Azul carried out the planning and construction management and equipped an orthopedic rehabilitation center in the district of Manjacaze.

The Center was built according to Mozambican construction standards, and a key issue for the success of this project, involved public consultations, stakeholder meetings, as well as close collaboration with government and local organizations on a weekly basis.

Education Review in Zambézia Province

Client – Oxfam GB
Location – Zambézia – Mozambique
Year – 2005
Time – 4 months

This Oxfam project was intended to provide assistance, namely regarding girls’ access to education.

It was developed to provide a strategy to increase girls’ school attendance within the National Strategic Education Plan, in five districts in Zambézia province.

The mid-term review carried out by Verde Azul was designed to identify successes and challenges, in order to propose adjustments based on field results.

Verde Azul prepared a documentary analysis of the project documents and the results of similar projects in Mozambique and the Region.

Subsequently, Verde Azul conducted interviews in focus groups in the field, held individual meetings and evaluations based on results in the classroom.

Verde Azul presented the draft report at a seminar in Zambézia province and incorporated comments from participants in the seminar involving communities, the Ministry of Education and Oxfam.

Technical Assistance to School Directors for the Implementation of the National HIV / AIDS Policy – Ministry of Education (MINED) – 2 Phases

Client – UNICEF / Ministry of Education (MINED)
Location – Mozambique
Year – 2003 – 2005
Time – 18 months

Verde Azul provided the Ministry of Education with general coordination, which prepared, developed and implemented a training program for school principals and staff, in order for them to implement the national HIV-AIDS policy. This project had two phases:

Phase 1

i) Elaboration of the first draft of MINED’s HIV / AIDS policy;
ii) the distribution of the approved policy to the MINED Teacher Education institutions;
iii) elaboration of the support document for the school principals – “Managing the school in an HIV / AIDS context”;
iv) promoting participation and discussions about the content of the documents.

Phase 2 – Monitoring and Supervising the Training of Trainers in the program.

Gender and the Sustainable Use of Forest Resources in Zambezia Province

Client – MADER / National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife / Finnish Aid
Location – Zambézia – Mozambique
Year – 2004
Time – 2 months

The objective of the study was the sustainable use of forest resources by local communities, a result to be obtained through the formation of the Provincial Directorate of Forests and Wildlife, through the development of a forest inventory and a strategic forest management plan.

Verde Azul, in addition to the general training of local communities for the implementation of the management plan, provided a description of the main challenges related to equality in local communities, as well as coordinated a dialogue regarding the HIV / AIDS situation in the communities.

Verde Azul also provided an action plan with the aim of reducing the prevalence of HIV, as this is a risk factor for social well-being.