Exploratory Mission to Beira and Buzi Mozambique is ranked as one of the poorest countries   in the world. Located in south-eastern Africa, it occupies 800,000 km2 and has a population of approximately 22 million people , of whom 52% are women. 
According to the global gender gap report (2011), Mozambique ranks 125/135 countries on the gender inequality index. Whilst Mozambique scores extremely well for example with 39.2 % of women with seats in parliament, only 1,5 % of women of 25 years old and over have had access to secondary education.  Getting and keeping girls in school has been one of the targets of the Ministry of education and of numerous efforts by UNICEF and other organisations.
The effects of poverty are severe in the country as a whole, (56% in the rural areas), particularly in the lives of women for who access to the resources and opportunities of development is systematically denied . It is believed that in rural areas, where more than 70% of the country population is living, the effects of poverty are deepening. In fact, the level of per capita income in rural areas of Mozambique is estimated to be around US$ 100 a year, i.e., about a half of the national average estimates (US$ 210); 72% of Mozambique population in rural areas are analphabets (33% in urban areas); majority of Mozambique peasantry in rural areas live on basis of less than 3ha of land, and only 1/10 can sell their products .

The District of Buzi:

The Buzi district occupies an area of 7409 km2, with a population of approximately 146,777 inhabitants, 19.8 inhabitants per km2. The government is represented by an Administrator, and a Permanent Secretary who leads a body of District Public Services Directorates – Agriculture and Fisheries, Education, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Public Works and Housing, Health and Social Welfare Coordination.  The coordination of the business of government is done through meetings with all sectors.  Traditional authority is also present and active, with an important role in conflict resolution.
Agriculture is the dominant activity and involves the majority of local families.  The main food crops of the family sector are maize, sorghum and rice.  Corn is the most cultivated, followed by rice, sorghum and cassava.  Vegetables, copra and cashew are also grown. 
 In food production, the limiting factors are floods (76%), pests (70%) and lack of seeds (60%). The district is lacking investment in agriculture, thus households use mostly traditional and organic methods to increase soil fertility.

The cultivated area by the household sector is over 33,356 hectares which represents only 4.6% of the total area of the district.  Access to land is determined by the traditional authorities and the district administration.

The district maintains strong trade links with the provincial capital (Beira), however the main limitation is the inability to produce substantial quantities in excess for market. Buzi is accessible by road, sea, air and telecommunications in terms of telephone, telegraph and radio links.

Rice production in the district is mainly done through Community Peasantry Based Organizations, made out of 20 to 40 families (majority woman) who have private plots of land. The local agriculture authorities prioritize these organizations in accessing seeds, equipments and other supports to crop production as an incentive for families to adhere to the organizations.

Objectives:
This project aims to propose an exploratory mission to the province of Sofala (Beira) and the district of Buzi, which will capture the details of the challenges offered in rice production of Buzi, identify strategic stakeholders and their structures, identify available resources that may support project development and propose solution into a project proposal to be funded by CAFOD livelihoods department.