81320368-Implementation of field activities to strengthen competitiveness in selected blue economy value chains in Mozambique

Background Causes preventing MSMEs and farmers from harnessing the potential of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries to generate enough income and create jobs, especially for women and young people, are manifold. Public services are not sufficiently available, and laws and regulations are inadequate or not consistently applied. Most MSMEs and farmers lack skills and access to financial services, especially in rural areas. However, Mozambique has favorable land, inland water and marine resources for increasing productivity and value addition to meet growing demand for food. The Government of Mozambique recognizes the importance of agriculture and the blue economy for economic development and supports the sectors through strategies such as the National Strategic Development Plan for the Agricultural Sector 2030 and the National Blue Economy Development Strategy. Our approach Within the framework of these strategies under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries and by building on the experiences of different private sector development projects of German development cooperation in Mozambique, VaMoz Competir applies an integrated approach aiming at the creation of a more conducive environment for the development of the sector in rural and coastal areas. The project promotes income and employment opportunities through three interlinked work streams. 1. Value chain promotion Partnerships with well-established companies that source products from MSMEs and small producers are established aiming at a win-win situation of development and business targets. Within these partnerships, the project provides training to enhance skills, supports the development of digital solutions for supply chain management, and facilitates market processes. Better skills and linkages between small producers, processors, and service providers improve both the income situation and resilience to climate change. In the blue economy sector sustainable and inclus