The World Bank has approved a US$40 million International Development Association (IDA) grant to support the implementation of Mozambique's Conservation Areas (CAs) for Biodiversity and Development Project, known as Mozbio.
18 November 2014: The World Bank has approved a US$40 million International Development Association (IDA) grant to support the implementation of Mozambique’s Conservation Areas (CAs) for Biodiversity and Development Project, known as Mozbio.
This program benefits from an additional US$6.3 million grant provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Mozambique’s CAs host a very rich biodiversity, yet poverty rates around them are very high. The Mozbio Project aims to strengthen CAs’ protection and improve the livelihoods of nearby communities by promoting tourism focused on conservation and biodiversity. The Project will look at strengthening institutional and policy frameworks for conservation, improving CAs management, particularly for marine CAs, as well as broadening the livelihood options to communities living in and around the CAs.
The project will also promote innovative mechanisms to ensure sustainable financing of CAs and contribute to the World Bank Country Partnership Strategy for Mozambique (2012-2015), aimed at promoting broad-based, inclusive and pro-poor growth. [World Bank News]