With support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, communities around Gorongosa National Park are growing food, forests, and futures.
In the heart of Mozambique, where rural families live close to the rhythms of nature, an ambitious effort to transform lives and landscapes is gaining ground. The Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project—an initiative led by the Gorongosa Restoration Project in collaboration with Resilience and Right to Play—is proud to share its 2024 progress with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Across the buffer zone of Gorongosa National Park, farmers are growing stronger harvests, children are eating more nutritious meals, and communities are leading their own environmental recovery. This is what sustainable development looks like—from the ground up.
Farmers and forests growing smarter
The project’s digital Farm Management Information System has become a powerful tool for smallholder farmers. In 2024 alone, 5,143 farmers were registered—98 percent of the second-year goal. The system is helping growers manage their crops more effectively and is now being used to support coffee production and guide reforestation efforts.
The numbers tell a story of success:
- 4,615 small farmers supported, a 23 percent increase over the original target
- 1,341 farmers using irrigation, strengthening food security and resilience to drought
- 28,341 metric tons of sesame and corn sold, thanks to stronger links with local traders
- 38 percent increase in income, with average earnings rising from 32,000 to 44,000 Mozambican Meticais
Meanwhile, environmental restoration teams planted 92,775 native seedlings across 81.6 hectares of land. In total, 1,869 hectares are now under sustainable land management. Women and young people are taking the lead—496 participated in reforestation efforts, exceeding expectations and deepening community ownership of local conservation.
Eating better, living healthier
This year, the project launched a new nutrition framework alongside a strategy for encouraging healthy behavior through education. With guidance from 514 community leaders and 178 volunteer caregivers known as “Model Moms and Dads,” the effort reached 32,853 people with training on healthy eating, water safety, and hygiene.
Major gains were also made in water and sanitation:
- 43,392 people gained access to safe and sustainable sanitation—exceeding the five-year goal by 44 percent
- 48 communities were certified as open-defecation free under the national approach to rural sanitation
- 1,271 students now attend schools with improved sanitation facilities
- Four new boreholes were constructed, bringing clean water to 3,239 people, 62 percent of whom are women
At the same time, the project expanded its work around sexual and reproductive health. Through community sessions and peer education, 10,489 people received accurate and comprehensive information on reproductive rights, family planning, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections.
Accountability and what comes next.
A third-party audit of the 2024 financial statements is now in progress, led by the firm I2A. The Sustainable Livelihoods Development Project team continues to work closely with the Gorongosa Restoration Project, Resilience, Right to Play, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to ensure transparency and shared learning.
This year’s report is more than a summary of progress. It’s a snapshot of a growing movement—one where local communities are empowered to lead, supported by long-term partnerships, and inspired by a vision of shared prosperity.
For more updates from the field, follow the journey of Gorongosa’s communities as they build a future that’s rooted in resilience and grounded in hope.