Photo Gallery: Mozambique

EGP Pilot Project on Participatory Environmental Monitoring with the National Agency for Environmental Quality Control and Source International

By Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)

A pilot project on community-based environmental monitoring is taking shape in Mozambique. It is the result of collaboration between the Environmental Governance Programme (EGP), National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA) and Source International.

The pilot project started looking at issues in the Moatize district in Tete Province, where a large-scale coal mine started operating in 2011. Local communities are concerned with the potential water pollution and its consequences, as most of them rely on water for subsistence agriculture and fishing. The proximity of the mining operations to tributaries of the great Zambeze river also indicate the potential for contamination that goes far beyond the district of Moatize.

What is participatory monitoring?

Community-based and collaborative monitoring of environmental and human rights issues around mines that contributes to strengthening participation in decision-making, through both science and human rights based approaches.

Objectives of the pilot project

Train communities on the technical aspects of conducting monitoring of water, air, and noise around mining sites so they can get scientific evidence to seek accountability and redress administratively and juridically, but first and foremost through dialogue with companies and authorities, with an aim to prevent socio-environmental conflicts.

We also train local communities and authorities on conducting human rights impact assessments so they can use a rights-based language for advancing their rights and if needed, to seek recourse through the human rights legal system.

capacity building of local authorities and communities

The project provides on-site training, manuals, equipment and training of trainers to ensure sustainability of the results. After the pilot project is concluded, it is expected that the communities and authorities have the skills, equipment and platforms for dialogue to keep up the monitoring themselves..