Knowledge based coordination for sustainable policy decision

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Field trip of the Training of Trainer workshop in Vilanculos

Joao Sousa

Mozambique faces substantial challenges in balancing development and environmental conservation. To protect biodiversity and address climate change, the country has adopted the ambitious 30x30 goals, safeguarding 30% of its terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030. This requires overcoming obstacles like fragmented development efforts, limited coordination, and insufficient data. In response, Mozambique’s Government, supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has launched a campaign to raise awareness and build consensus. This collaboration has produced a forward-looking framework within the National Territorial Development Plan (PNDT 2020-2040), which aims for a “prosperous, competitive, sustainable, safe, and inclusive” country. The PNDT integrates key data on population, climate, and socio-economic factors, emphasising the need for accurate, real-time data for sustainable development. Pilot projects in two areas have proven innovative strategies and offer best practices for wider application.

Last update: 20 Dec 2024

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Context

Challenges addressed

Poor governance and participation

Mozambique’s conservation efforts have been hindered by poor governance, limited participation, and financial constraints:

Governance outreach and multisector exchange have delayed adoption and slowed impact on decision-making.
Limited involvement of local communities and key stakeholders has further undermined efforts.
Financial resources for advocacy and information-sharing campaigns have been insufficient, restricting the scope of conservation initiatives.
The lack of coordination among development actors has led to fragmented efforts, especially when using complex tools like GIS-based scenarization models, which require collaboration to be effective.

Scale of implementation

Local

Subnational

National

Ecosystems

Area-wide development

Theme

Access and benefit sharing

Disaster risk reduction

Ecosystem services

Location

Maputo, Mozambique

East and South Africa

Process

Summary of the process

The approach to scaling conservation efforts in Mozambique is grounded in the design and approval of strong, effective partnerships, with a focus on knowledge sharing and capacity building. By leveraging its extensive membership network and trusted relationships with government and local organizations, IUCN has facilitated collaboration among diverse stakeholders, aligning efforts with both national and global conservation goals. Knowledge-sharing tools and capacity-building initiatives play a critical role in empowering communities to actively engage in conservation. Key initiatives, such as the establishment of the Dialogue Platform and Knowledge Hubs, have created open spaces for dialogue and the exchange of knowledge, helping local partners and governments collaborate, prioritize needs, and share lessons learned. The following sections explore these core elements, examining the enabling factors that contributed to their success and the valuable lessons learned throughout the process.

Building Blocks

Strategic Processes for Coordinated Conservation Action

The foundation of the process was built on two key elements: IUCN’s broad membership network and its reputation as a reliable partner to governments. This strong base enabled IUCN to mobilize environmental actors, both local and international, to collaborate with government counterparts. By creating an open space for discussion, IUCN enabled conversations around challenges and opportunities for scaling conservation efforts through coordinated, complementary approaches.

The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness provided an essential framework for understanding the flow of development aid and its implications. It also served as a guide for participants to see how their efforts fit into broader national and global commitments, such as the 30x30 conservation goal.

Furthermore, a series of thematic events under the umbrella of environmental sustainability were designed, focusing on tools like the PNDT and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP/POEM), which are essential for creating local ecosystems-based development plans and the evaluation and response to competing uses of conservation and buffer areas. These plans are vital for addressing complex land use and conservation issues. The structured approach not only helped improve governance and public participation but also ensured that IUCN’s role in policy design was strengthened through its ongoing dialogue with the government.

Enabling factors

IUCN's strong membership, including key actors like the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA) (via the National Administration for the Conservation Areas (ANAC), government trust in IUCN’s expertise and transparent engagement, and IUCN’s results-orientation and alignment with national goals helped create an effective platform for collaboration.

Lesson learned

Key takeaways include the importance of long-term commitment to dialogue. It's crucial not to engage with partners only for the duration of a project—sustained engagement builds trust and ensures that actions are aligned with both national and global objectives. It is essential to demonstrate how the action contributes to the 30x30 commitment, while ensuring the efficient use of available knowledge, data, and research as the foundation for designing effective and sustainable interventions. This approach should prioritize practicality and cost-efficiency, especially when engaging with communities.

Coordination with development partners and understanding policy frameworks like the Paris Declaration, of which Mozambique is a signatory, were also essential in aligning priorities, particularly when addressing conservation and environment goals. Moreover, using data and research efficiently helps design sustainable interventions that make the best use of available resources.

Fostering Strong Partnerships for Collaborative Conservation

IUCN’s approach was rooted in its membership union, of which the Government of Mozambique is a partner. Mozambique hosts several key IUCN members, including Peace Parks Foundation, WCS, and WWF, as well as benefiting from EU-funded initiatives like PANORAMA. This made it easier for IUCN to assess interest and support for establishing a platform for knowledge and information sharing, such as the Dialogue Platform.

IUCN worked closely with the Ministry of Land and Environment, including ANAC, to engage local organisations and governments in identifying key thematic and policy areas for discussion. This approach helped streamline conservation and development approaches and manuals, creating a unified voice to influence policy and aligned the conservation actor’s engagement and agreement. The first edition of the Dialogue Platform was a success, providing an open dialogue with the government and conservation actors to discuss biodiversity and conservation priorities. The event also featured the SOMN Mangrove Champion Awards, that were jointly presented by an IUCN representative, the German Embassy representative and the MTA Permanent Secretary, underscoring the value of partnerships and recognition in promoting environmental efforts.

By nurturing partnerships, IUCN ensured that the voice of conservation actors remained active, positively influencing policy decisions, particularly in mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem-based adaptation into all development projects. The continued activities of the Dialogue Platform deepened engagement around themes such as land use and the management of competing land interests.

Enabling factors

IUCN’s strong network of members, its outreach, and a positive image with conservation actors and donors, as well as the public image, helped build trust and facilitate cooperation with government and local organizations.

IUCN´s membership, IUCN´s outreach and positive image with donors and conservation actors, visibility and public image and, as before said, Government´s trust.

Lesson learned

Early engagement with the government and partners was critical for success. Clear communication and joint planning helped identify common goals and build consensus. Once common interests were established, an agenda was designed to address key thematic areas and ensure broad participation.

Leveraging Knowledge Hubs for Sustainable Capacity Building

IUCN Mozambique, in partnership with the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA) and local governments, launched three Knowledge Hubs as part of its efforts to centralize and streamline conservation and restoration training and knowledge exchange from the central to local levels and from public administration to communities. These hubs serve as essential training tools, particularly for mangrove restoration and protection, and for the broader application of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for both communities and policymakers.

Located within government premises in Maputo, Maputo National Park, and Pemba, the hubs function as open-access centres where conservation manuals, tools, and courses, including those from the IUCN Academy, are shared. These resources, (e.g. on NbS, Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), mangrove restoration) translated to Portuguese and tailored to local projects and communities, help expand the reach of conservation knowledge, especially to rural communities, women, and youth. By offering systematic online and in-person training, the hubs provide a space for both tailored learning and socio-economic development, incorporating important dimensions of governance, gender, and youth engagement.

The Knowledge Hubs empower local communities, especially those in buffer and coastal areas, to become active agents in conservation and climate adaptation by providing tools on topics such as mangrove restoration and NbS. This initiative not only promotes sustainable practices but also nurtures a culture of learning and participation.

The Knowledge Hubs have proven to be a cost-effective solution for training, using existing infrastructure and only require internet connectivity. The program includes in-person training, such as the “Blue Training in Practise” program, which successfully trained over 20 professors and MTA staff to integrate coastal and marine management into local development plans and projects This approach is designed as a long-term, cross-sectoral process, ensuring that biodiversity, climate, and development considerations are incorporated into local development strategies. Where possible, the program also facilitates personal exchanges with local communities to enhance engagement and knowledge transfer.

Furthermore, the Knowledge Hubs have also served as a model for other development and conservation actors, attracting in-kind and financial support, which further strengthens partnerships and raises awareness.

Enabling factors

Partnerships with the government and IUCN’s funding members, such as WWF, and local leaders have been instrumental in the success of the Knowledge Hubs.

Lesson learned

Success depends on developing a clear investment plan, selecting reliable internet providers, and designating competent actors to manage content development and uploading. Collaboration with local and international partners is essential for sustaining the hubs and expanding their reach.

By establishing these Knowledge Hubs and prioritizing capacity-building, IUCN has not only shared essential tools for conservation but has also contributed to the long-term sustainability of conservation efforts in Mozambique.

Impacts

IUCN has played a crucial role in addressing conservation challenges in Mozambique through three key actions:

Simplifying Complex Information: Presenting data in an accessible format aligned with the country’s legal and policy framework.
Mobilising Stakeholders: Engaging conservation groups, local actors, and government officials for broad support.
Ensuring Government Engagement: Involving both local and national leadership to encourage ownership of the process.

These efforts resulted in the creation of the Dialogue Platform on Environment, a collaborative hub for conservation, government, and development partners. Co-organised with the Ministry of Land and Environment and German Cooperation, the platform enhances climate resilience, supports inclusive decision-making, and strengthens governance. It has driven collective action towards Mozambique’s goals, boosting local governance and conservation funding.

IUCN also created Knowledge Hubs, vital centres for knowledge exchange and capacity-building. These hubs empower local communities, particularly women and youth, to engage in climate adaptation and conservation. They bridge the gap between national policies and local actions, promoting alignment with global conservation targets, such as the 30x30 goals.

As a result, Mozambique is advancing sustainable development, with stronger governance and more effective environmental protection for future generations.

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are the conservation society in general, which is central to local governments, actors, and communities involved in biodiversity and conservation projects and activities.

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 1 – No poverty

SDG 5 – Gender equality

SDG 13 – Climate action

SDG 15 – Life on land

Story

Dialogue Platform

MTA

The Dialogue Platform on Environment Biodiversity and Conservation was a key initiative that allowed to expand IUCN´ network and membership competencies and capabilities into a national wider role, reinstalling a coordinated partnerships dialogue that reinforced Mozambique´s capacities to produce integrated analysis and information on conservation interventions and outputs.