Pemba (Mozambique), 10 November 2025. Today marked the launch event of two projects focusing on Blue Economy during the first day of an Italian System mission to the Cabo Delgado Province, taking place from 10 to 15 November 2025 and led by the Ambassador of Italy to Mozambique, Gabriele Annis. The launch took place at the Secretary of State’s office in Cabo-Delgado.
Funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and tittled“Sustainable and Integrated Development of Marine and Coastal Resources in Cabo Delgado Province – ECOBLU”, has a total budget of 3.5 million euros and a three-year duration. It aims to promote the economic and social empowerment of coastal communities through the development of alternative and more sustainable livelihood activities linked to the blue economy, contributing to improved conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems in Mozambique.
According to Paolo Enrico Sertoli, Head at the AICS Maputo Office, the initiative, implemented in partnership with INAMAR, the Government of Cabo Delgado, and the Italian NGO Oikos, will “strengthen local and national institutions to ensure effective governance and sustainable management of marine and coastal resources in line with international standards, in line with the recent initiatives on blue economy funded by the Italian Development Cooperation in Mozambique.”
The project builds on the Italian Cooperation’s past efforts in Cabo Delgado Province, focusing on assisting internally displaced persons through WASH, food security, health, and nutrition interventions, while also promoting the development of the coffee value chain — particularly on Ibo Island — where the Italian Cooperation has supported the rehabilitation and construction of key infrastructures, including the new headquarters of the Quirimbas National Park.
The second initiative, “Blu Ibo Niri Project: Enhancing Livelihoods through Improved Environmental Conservation and Economic Development”, is funded by Eni Rovuma Basin, on behalf of Area 4 Partners. The project aims to strengthen community resilience and promote sustainable growth by integrating environmental conservation with economic development.
According to Marica Calabrese, Managing Director of Eni Rovuma Basin in Mozambique, “This project represents a concrete step towards fostering resilience and sustainable growth in Cabo Delgado. By combining economic development with environmental conservation, we aim to create opportunities that will empower the local communities, while preserving the natural heritage of the region. This partnership with AICS reflects our commitment to inclusive progress and long-term stability, building on our initiatives within the area”.
The event include also the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU): one between AICS and the Government of Cabo Delgado, represented by Iolanda Almeida, Director of Tourism and Culture, and another between Eni Rovuma Basin, on behalf of Area 4 Partners and the Secretary of State in Cabo Delgado, Fernando Bemane de Sousa.
Gabriele Annis, Ambassador of Italy to Mozambique, on the upcoming launch:
“These two projects, which will help strengthen the sustainable use of the oceans and empower coastal communities. The launch took place on the first day of the mission of the Italian System to Cabo Delgado, with the participation of the Italian Trade Agency, the Chamber of Commerce Italy–Mozambique, AICS and Eni, reaffirming Italy’s strong commitment to the sustainable development of the Province.”
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