area of work

Economic empowerment

Economic independence reduces the risk of violence. We support women and young people to save, learn a trade and earn an income.

The challenge
Our response
Projects
Gallery

A women's savings group counting money under a tree

Women in Spotlight Initiative T-shirts clap in a circle with a GCR staff member

the challenge

Rebuilding livelihoods after the conflict

In Cabo Delgado, many women and young people live in resettlement centres after fleeing the conflict and need to rebuild their livelihoods. GCR starts from one principle: a woman who has her own income is less exposed to exploitation and violence.

Demand is high. In Palma and Mocímboa da Praia alone, 1,254 people were screened and registered for economic activities in 2023. So are the barriers: in Metuge and Ancuabe, GCR aimed to train 10 women leaders but trained 6, because most leadership positions are held by men.

our response

Save, learn a trade, sell

Economic empowerment links emergency response to recovery. GCR starts from community priorities and local markets, trains women and young people in technical and business skills, organises peer-led business groups and hands over start-up kits. Savings groups give access to small loans and to financial literacy training.

Vocational training is delivered with state institutions such as INEP and IFPELAC, and groups are supported to register as cooperatives so they can operate formally and reach markets. Women with disabilities are actively included in the groups.

By 2030, the Strategic Plan provides for supporting 150 savings groups with 3,750 women, and linking GBV survivors leaving emergency services to income pathways, with economic kits and business start-up support.

01
Map and register

Identifying participants and viable economic activities, with the community and district services.
02
Train

Small business management, vocational trades, poultry farming and fish processing, with certification.
03
Equip

Start-up and self-employment kits handed over to the groups, witnessed by community leaders and administrative post chiefs.
04
Save as a group

Savings groups with financial literacy, and local facilitators who keep supporting the groups after the project ends.
05
Formalise and sell

Registration of cooperatives, business fairs and links to local markets.

results

Results achieved

5,901

women in 200 savings groups

2026

3,000

women in 150 savings groups (Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Manica)

Oct 2023 – Mar 2025

Members of economic associations and visitors gathered outdoors under trees

from the field

Palma and Mocímboa da Praia: from trainees to business groups

In 2023, after training in small business management and the handover of self-employment kits, young people in Palma and Mocímboa da Praia organised themselves into 49 business groups.

Twenty-four groups raise laying hens and sell eggs. Twenty clean, dry and package fish and seafood for local markets. Five grow vegetables for home use and for sale, improving household nutrition and income.

In October 2023, the UNOPS Regional Director for East and Southern Africa visited GCR's economic empowerment activities in Palma.

Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado

Palma, Cabo Delgado · October 2023 · Photo: GCR

projects and presence

What we have done and what we do

Cabo DelgadoAncuabe, Chiúre, Macomia, Mecúfi, Mocímboa da Praia, Montepuez, Mueda, Muidumbe, Nangade, Pemba
NiassaCuamba, Marrupa, Mecula
SofalaBeira, Búzi, Dondo, Gorongosa, Nhamatanda

ongoing2026–2027

PSRR – Socioeconomic Recovery and Resilience of Displaced and Returnee Women and Girls

KOICA (Republic of Korea), through UN Women

Nangade and Macomia (Cabo Delgado)

3,461 displaced and returnee women and young people registered.
ongoing2026–2027

She Leads Peace (economic empowerment component)

Norway, through UN Women

8 districts of Cabo Delgado and Nampula

5,542 women registered and assessed.
completedOct 2023 – Mar 2025

Women, Peace and Security (WPS), phases I and II

Embassy of Norway, through UN Women

Ancuabe, Chiúre, Montepuez and Pemba (Cabo Delgado); Meconta (Nampula); Barué (Manica)

150 savings groups (VSLAs) with 3,000 women, and 150 women certified in vocational training; the 72 groups assessed were still active after Cyclone Chido and the post-election crisis.
completedJan 2023 – Jun 2025

NCRP – Northern Crisis Recovery Project (kits and economic strengthening)

World Bank, through UNOPS

Palma and Mocímboa da Praia (Cabo Delgado)

49 cooperatives legalised, 44 poultry and fish facilities, and cooperative sales of MZN 1,658,916.
completedNov 2023 – Apr 2025

NCRP – Vocational training

World Bank, through UNOPS, with INEP and IFPELAC

Palma and Mocímboa da Praia (Cabo Delgado)

137 trainees in entrepreneurship, 76 out-of-school girls in life skills and 13 people with disabilities trained.
completed2019–2023

Spotlight Initiative

European Union, through UN Women

Manica and Cabo Delgado (Chiúre in 2023)

In 2023, 120 young women in Chiúre started and now run their own businesses, and 105 women and girls were certified in poultry farming.
completed2023

COVID-19 response and women's economic empowerment

UN Women, with funding from the Embassy of Japan

Metuge and Ancuabe (Cabo Delgado)

125 women and girls trained and certified in poultry farming and small business management.