WeEffect sub-programme within AGIR II

General

This complementary decision on contribution concerns the We Effect subprogram within AGIR II-NACE. The decision on contribution was taken at the end of 2014 (82/14). As previously mentioned, the contribution was prepared for a period of six years, which reflected the time frame in the applications. Long-term support to local partners was considered compatible with the aid and development agenda, as well as reflecting the total period for (the then coming) strategy period for Mozambique (2015-2020). Since the new result strategy for Mozambique had not yet been determined when the decision on contribution was being decided upon at the end of 2014, previous rules about future commitments on the frame for authorizations (bemyndiganderamen) hindered Sida/AFRICA from being able to make a decision for all six years. Because of this, a decision on contribution was made for only three of the six years that the appraisal dealt with. However, the Embassy of Sweden in Maputo (EoS) intended to extend the contract with additional funds for the three remaining years (2018-2020) once a result strategy for Mozambique had been decided upon. We Effect submitted an updated application of NACE for the activity period 2018-2020. The extension is based upon the initial application for We Effect’s six year subprogram NACE and has been updated based on the results achieved during the three years that the program has been running so far. In the updated appraisal, focus is concentrated on the EoS’s experiences of cooperation with the development partner for the contract period 2015-2017, with a particular focus on achieved results and updating the results framework. As a result of this, there are updates on the budget, relaying of funds, number of cooperation partners, and external and internal risks. However, the EoS has, in addition to this, updated certain information in most sections regarding important changes, development, and progress in the contribution. There is also a particular focus on the integration of three new organizations from Niassa in NACE. Some new relevance analysis has been made as well in relation to Mozambique’s result strategy (only baseline figures and a suggestion for the result strategy was available when the initial decision on contribution was made) and in relation to the new Policy Framework for Swedish development cooperation. NACE focuses on three prioritized thematic areas: 1) land rights and natural resources; 2) agriculture and the right to food, and a safe, healthy environment in ecological balance; 3) climate change, adjustment and resilience. We Effect’s theory of change summarizes the three development problems above as “unfair division of wealth from natural resources and negative effect from an unhealthy environment and climate change.” We Effect intends to contribute to solving this development problem by, among other things, identifying actors of change (right holders, duty bearers, and civil society organisations) and to give support to partner organizations so that they can push for change in an effective manner. We Effect intends to use strategies that promote a favorable environment and reduces the impacts of climate change. The update of the previous appraisal was done simultaneously for all four subprograms in each respective contribution (51140067; 51140085; 51140086; & 51140087). However, this was not done for the overarching AGIR II program, which is not affected by the above mentioned organizational changes or the need for additional funds. The complementary decision on contribution is for an additional contribution of SEK 95 800 000 to We Effect in Mozambique to implement the NACE subprogram within AGIR II. The EoS is the sole financer for the second phase of NACE.

Objectives

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.