The collaboration between Eni and the AVSI in Mozambique

Laura Morisio, Country Director in Mozambique of the NGO Volunteer Associations for International Service (AVSI Foundation) tells us how it is essential to build a relationship of trust through collaboration, transparency and clear communication of objectives. From the start, it is crucial to compare and share experiences and expectations, as well as to recognise good practices and pinpoint factors that may either ease the project's progress or, conversely, create obstacles. With its resources, technology and access to markets, Eni can support impactful activities in the country. Drawing on its experience in social and environmental matters, AVSI ensures its interventions are effective, addressing the true needs of local communities. The partnership between Eni and AVSI has yielded many benefits on the ground: training and literacy programmes foster entrepreneurship and empower women, while the improved stove initiative boosts inclusion and enhances community life quality.

It begins with active and conscious engagement from the earliest stages of project development. Transparency and clear communication of goals, activities, and processes are essential to forge a strong and enduring relationship. Listening to the community's needs through public consultations is crucial. We must hold meetings that foster the sharing of experiences and expectations, as well as recognise current solutions and pinpoint any barriers or things that are conducive to the project's goals. Local communities should be involved consistently and with respect for their traditions, fostering a sense of ownership and duty. This also ensures that the project's outcomes are successfully handed over after completion. Moreover, forging partnerships with local groups, community leaders, and the government strengthens the support network and ensures the sustainability of activities. It is also vital to create ongoing feedback systems to ensure the community's views are taken into account.

They can achieve this by going beyond mere financial partnership, fostering profound and enduring social and community impact. A private company, with its resources, technology, and market access, can support practical work on-site; an NGO, drawing on its knowledge of social and environmental issues, can make sure efforts meet the actual needs of local communities. In the COESÃO (Social Cohesion) project, we successfully merged these abilities by forming a strategic partnership that tackled local challenges and bolstered capacity with training and skill enhancement. Another successful collaboration example is the stove improvement project, where the partnership between the NGO and the company enabled sustainable community development initiatives. In this instance, the company provided technical and financial support, while the NGO ensured the activities met the communities' needs, fostering awareness and encouraging more environmentally friendly behaviours. The private sector plays a role in development cooperation, actively contributing to sustainable project design and execution. Working alongside NGOs, it can identify and carry out activities that best meet community needs and do so most efficiently.

The projects AVSI and Eni have done in Mozambique have tangibly improved social and economic conditions, and bolstered community unity. In the COESÃO project, we met many goals, including teaching 75 women to read, write, and do basic maths through training courses. Female entrepreneurship and empowerment were fostered, boosting women's recognition of their worth and potential. Additionally, vocational training enabled some 60 young individuals to gain skills and begin apprenticeships. Community activities like football leagues have also bolstered social cohesion by fostering interaction among various local groups. The "Improved Cookstoves Distribution" project in Pemba has produced and distributed over 20,000 enhanced stoves, benefiting about 100,000 people. Besides cutting harmful emissions from conventional stoves, households have boosted their buying power and enhanced their life quality. The direct employment of around 30 local stove makers, including women, has enhanced their abilities and opened up new economic opportunities for them. Environmental awareness and sustainability have also curbed deforestation, yielding positive effects on the environment. Thanks to better stoves, women have cut down on fuel use and cooking time, freeing them to pursue economic activities like selling farm produce in local markets. The project has also boosted community spirit, as families united to enjoy the new technology's benefits, building a support network and encouraging stove adoption through word of mouth and peer comparison. 

Access to energy is essential for education: it allows children to study at night, helping to cut illiteracy and foster social inclusion, including for adults who can't study during the day. Energy also enhances community safety by enabling night-time movement and ensuring that vital services, like hospitals, can function around the clock. Energy underpins local economic development. It enables the establishment of small enterprises (essential for firms using fridges or similar equipment) and aids in the development of domestic gardens, enhancing the quality of food. Improved cookers cut the risk of smoke inhalation and help protect the environment by reducing deforestation. In countries like Mozambique, where just 33.2% of the population can access electricity, fair distribution of this resource remains a challenge. Therefore, it is vital that every family can take advantage of the opportunities presented by new technologies. Projects like the adoption of electric cookers, replacing traditional charcoal stoves, mark a significant move towards improved energy efficiency, enhanced air quality, and fewer respiratory illnesses.