According to the Bank’s website, the objective of this project is to strengthen community engagement, improve economic inclusion, and increase access to resilient infrastructure in Targeted Areas of Northern Mozambique.

The project will be the first operation of an MPA, conceived to allow scalability of World Bank support for local development in rural northern Mozambique. The program design envisages two simultaneous phases implemented over an eight-year period. The phases will address three key development needs of rural northern Mozambique communities that are impacted by fragility: social cohesion, access to economic opportunities, and access to resilient infrastructure. These will be achieved by revitalizing forums for dialogue between the northern provinces, within communities, and between communities and the state, supporting a cash transfer program for vulnerable households, supporting youth upskilling and SME development, providing GBV and psycho-social support services, building systems for community participation in local development, enhancing the capacity of local government for better planning and efficient service delivery, and investing in priority community and public infrastructure.

Both phases will be implemented in the three northern provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa. This US$100 million IDA Phase I operation will develop and remobilize foundational regional, province, and district-level dialogue forums, while local economic development activities and community infrastructure and basic service planning activities and investments will concentrate in selected 80 localities across the provinces' 56 districts and public infrastructure will be concentrated in 10 districts of Cabo Delgado province. A US$150 million IDA Phase II operation will deepen local development systems and capacities and make sure they are sustainable while developing community and public infrastructure and services in additional localities according to readiness criteria.

The environmental risk of the project is rated Substantial. Although the project will finance primarily small-scale community and public infrastructure works—these activities will take place across a broad geographic area affected by fragility and limited institutional presence. Potential environmental risks include soil disturbance, erosion, improper disposal of construction debris and solid waste, localized air and noise emissions, interference with natural drainage patterns, and risks related to material sourcing, particularly where contractors may rely on unregulated borrow areas or quarries. In addition, the project may involve the rehabilitation or installation of small water supply systems, which could generate risks related to water quality, wastewater management, and resource efficiency. Occupational health and safety (OHS) risks are expected during community works and small-scale construction activities, especially given the likely use of local labor, variable contractor capacity, and existing gaps in OHS management across public works agencies. Community health and safety risks may arise from increased traffic and movement of construction materials, inappropriate site demarcation, or insufficient management of work areas in densely populated village environments. While the project is not expected to support activities in protected areas or critical habitats, some subprojects may be located near wetlands, seasonal streams, or modified natural habitats.

The social risk of the project is rated Substantial. The project will operate in areas deeply affected by fragility, conflict, displacement, and weak state presence. Key social risks include: (i) labor risks, related to the use of local labor in community works, uneven contractor capacity, and potential gaps in enforcing labor management requirements, occupational health and safety (OHS) practices, and worker grievance mechanisms; (ii) SEA/SH risks, which are elevated in FCV settings characterized by displacement, weakened social protection systems, and limited availability of survivor support services. Labor-intensive public works and increased interaction between workers and communities may heighten these risks if not proactively managed; (iii) community health and safety risks, including localized hazards around worksites, increased movement of construction materials, and potential exposure of communities—particularly women and children—to unsafe construction areas; (iv) exclusion risks, whereby vulnerable groups such as IDPs, returnees, unemployed youth, female-headed households, and remote communities may face barriers to accessing project benefits or participating meaningfully in planning processes, given uneven local government presence and variable community governance structures; and (v) security risks, linked to ongoing insurgent activity in parts of Cabo Delgado and select districts of Nampula and Niassa, which may affect consultations, supervision, continuity of activities, and safe engagement with communities. At this stage, land acquisition needs have not been defined.

Total Project Cost: US$ 100.00 million
IDA Grant: US$ 100.00 million

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Xavier Agostinho Chavana
Title: Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist
Email: xchavana@worldbank.org

TTL Contact: Neelam Nizar Verjee
Job Title: Senior Operations Officer
Email: nverjee@worldbank.org

TTL Contact: Nicholas Meitiaki Soikan
Job Title: Senior Social Development Specialist
Email: nsoikan@worldbank.org

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint