WeEffect sub-programme within AGIR II

During the cost extension period of 2021 and 2022 the We Effect Natural Resources, Agriculture, Climate and Environment - NACE sub-programme has achieved positive results, and key ones are highlighted below: - Approval of National Land Policy after proper civil society consultation process: In 2020 the Government of Mozambique decided to undertake the review of the Land Policy. NACE supported civil society consultation process, especially in the province of Niassa where We Effect has been assigned the role of facilitating the consultation together with FONAGNI - (Forum das Organizacoes nao Governamentais do Niassa) and in general the outcome of the approved Land Policy is positive, however some areas of the law related to the transmission of the land titles remain controversial.  - Completion of the accounting process of the Growing blue Conference: The NACE subprogramme facilitated the management of Sida support for the organization of Growing Blue Conference that took place in November 2021.   Some of the outcome of the conference discussions include: i) Shared experiences on models and approaches for implementing Blue Economy initiatives to maximize the potential of the Oceans, particularly the Maritime Spatial Planning and ii) Cooperation strengthened to anchor the implementation of the Blue Economy agenda in a strong regional and international collaboration through structured approaches, integrated models and operationalisation mechanisms (institutional and financial).  - Freezing of the NGO Law bill: In October - December 2022,  near 850 organisations in Mozambique have managed to join efforts to undertake a massive advocacy campaign to prevent from the approval of the proposal Law Bill on Non-profit organizations,   deposited by Government of Mozambique in the Assembly of the Republic (Parliament). The proposed Law  that establishes the legal regime for the creation, organisation and operation of Non-Profit Organisations without prior consultation and discussion with the main interested parties (civil society organisations). This is an unexpected result since it was not part of the initial and approved NACE plan however because of its relevance, Sida agreed the inclusion of the activity into NACE subprogramme plan to be able to contribute to the  support for the consultation and advocacy process undertaken over the all country.    Nevertheless the activity relate to Support the launch of the Peace Advisory Group Cabo Delgado (PAG-DC) had to be cancelled. According We Effect NACE report, there were substantial changes in the conflict including increased military presence in the affected areas, Non Armed Groups (NSAG) change of strategies by attacking in smaller groups, spreading out of attacks, expansion of the conflict to other districts. The other change was that authorities increased their security posture and did not accept open dialogue on the conflict. 

The We Effect NACE subprogram follows the AGIR II programme mission which is To contribute to the emergence of an active, strong and vibrant civil society in Mozambique, who legitimately raise and channel the voice of the female and male right holders who are at present being politically, socially and economically marginalized, secure their access to all information they need to exercise their civil rights, and effectively participating in and influencing the course of policy decision-making process and accountability of the duty bearers for a transparent, democratic, inclusive, gender just and human rights sensitive governance.; and AGIR vision of To contribute to a Mozambican society where its citizens, particularly also presently marginalized groups, fully enjoy their rights to inclusion and equity, to retribution of wealth created from the countrys patrimony, to accessible and affordable public services of good quality, to basic civil freedoms and to political representation and participation, in a peaceful and ecologically sustainable environment. In this regard, We Effect aims as ultimate impact that rights-holders living in the rural and urban areas have secured benefits from use of land and natural resources, enjoy safe and healthy environment and reduced negative climate change impact. The AGIR II NACE impact objective is "Secured benefits for rights-holders from use of land and natural resources, enjoy safe and healthy environment and reduced negative climate change impact". That will be reached through: 1 Empowered partner organisations that support the rights of people in poverty to land, secure land tenure, and sustainable management of natural Resources; 2. Empowered farmer organisations defending the right of everyone to safe and nourishing food in accordance with the right to a balanced diet and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger; 3. Empowered partner organisations defending the right of people to a safe and healthy environment in ecological balance, today and for future generations; and 4. Empowered partner organisations using study circles as a method to achieve thematic results. All above in correspondence with the Theory of Change that aims to empower local communities to be able make actions towards the reduction of poverty and the development of a just society. We Effect - AGIR NACE Cost Extension objectives (2021-2022) The cost extension will allow We Effect and selected partner organisations to strengthen and consolidate the results and achievement made during AGIR I and II.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some activities could not be concluded, including the consolidation of results and finalising the collection of lessons learned and success stories from the six year programme. The pandemic and the resulting Government social restrictions meant that We Effect could not ensure a sustainable phase out of the AGIR II programme, the largest ever civil society programme in the country. The cost extension will allow We Effect and five seleted partner organisations to conclude pending activities and consolidate the results achieved. The cost extension will be focused on two main areas: (i) the right to land and (ii) the right to food. The two thematic areas are two main priority areas in the "Vi Agroforestry & We Effect Interim Strategy 2020-2022" (https://viskogen.se/app/uploads/2021/05/gov-1177-v.2.0-vi-agroforestry-we-effect-interim-strategy-2020-2022.pdf), as is climate resilience with gender equality which also relevant to the national priorities. Both thematic areas were part of the natural resources subprogram of the AGIR-NACE and where there has been considerable progress, both in capacity building and results.  Geographically, AGIR-NACE cost extension will be implemented in four provinces: Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Tete and Maputo. Niassa and Tete provinces were selected to support local partners to empower local rights holders whose rights to land and food are essential for their survival. Cabo Delgado Province was selected to support the local partner who is assisting communities whose rights to life, shelter, food, and land are threatened by the ongoing conflict. It was also selected to contribute to peace building support to the affected population. Maputo, the Capital, is the decision-making centre. Partners based in Maputo will continue to undertake advocacy for improving policies on behalf and together with the rights holders. In the beginning of 2020, the Government of Mozambique - GoM, has launched the consultation process to revise the land policy. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the consultations were not  carried out as planned, limited transparency and participatory approaches were used by the GoM to conduct the consultations.  The cost extension will support  partners organizations to actively participate in the land policy revision process, towards ensuring the protection of small farmers,  especially the womens rights to land in Mozambique by improving a process that protects womens right to land and reduces land conflicts. For this cost extension, the IPOs have agreed on six specific criterias that guide the selection of partners. The criteria are partners that: i) have been a core or project partner in the AGIR programme between 2015-2020; ii) work in thematic area/s relevant to AGIR and the current national context; iii)have received an unqualified audit opinion in the 2020 audit report; iv)have no corruption incident reported during the implementation of the AGIR programme; v) have good programme management capacity and sound internal control systems; and vi) have the potential to deliver on the peace building and nexus, where possible. Expected result's (from annex 1 Results Framework, July 2021 June 2022 ) With this cost extension period it is expected a proper consolidation of  NACE results (on right to land and ritgh to food areas), collection of lessons learned and success stories from the six year programme as well as a closure of the prgramme on a responsible way.  On Right to Land: (Empowered the partner organisations that support the rights of people in poverty to land, secure land tenure, and sustainable management of natural resources) the activities will focus on: - Improved policies on land and natural resources - Increased community awareness of their right to land and natural resources On right to food: (Empowered the farmer organisations defending the right of everyone to safe and nourishing food in accordance with the right to a balanced diet and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger) the activities focus on:  - Improved policies for small scale farmers and their right to food - Increased community knowledge on better nutrition, agricultural production and right to food The Embassy assess that by focusing on two specific areas and selected POs,  it will allow better and rational application of Sida funds to be allocated to the 5 POs as well as assure responsible closing of the programme.