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In order to make the vision a reality, FAR applied Swisscontacts’ Inclusive Markets (IM) approach to trigger systemic change in the market by building on existing “end-of-the market opportunities” and taking a facilitative role, rather than delivering direct services.
Inclusive Markets were complemented and supported by a demand-driven cluster approach, based on the assumption that competitive clusters (that aggregate farmers specialised in a specific activity or crops) would create opportunities for farmers, traders and input suppliers, and foster the integration of farmers into value chains by strengthening links with buyers and business opportunities.
The FAR Programme also improved availability and access to affordable and easy-to-adopt CSA solutions among smallholder farmers.
The adaptive capacities of smallholder farmers, as well as the production or productivity of essential food crops, including rice, maize and beans, have been substantially increased by adopting correct and affordable CSA solutions in input areas (e.g. improved seed varieties), practices (e.g. no sowing of crops), irrigation (e.g. underground dams) and post-harvest handling.
Addressing the lack of Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) was also be a cross-cutting topic of the FAR Programme. Climate change has a differential gender impact because of associated roles and responsibilities that the Mozambican society prescribes to men and women. Rural women are typically more vulnerable due to traditional power relations. Usually women have less access than men to resources and services. Besides this, they are less involved in decision-making, despite their indigenous knowledge and coping mechanisms.
Gender Inclusion
WEE is seen as one of the most important driving forces behind reducing poverty and aiding economic growth. Addressing specific constraints must be treated as a key component to improving food security through gender-sensitive approaches.
In all interventions and activities, due attention has been paid to the participation of women. In general, this has been achieved as the programme has had 57% participation of women overall. It can, however, be noted that certain activities such as hub-agro-dealers were dominated by men.
As an example, FAR promoted labour-saving technologies for women to ensure greater adoption rates and CSA practices that reduce food loss and waste. They advanced production of crops and livelihoods that are most appropriate for women and encouraged basic processing and marketing to diversify income-earning opportunities.