Combing Health and Food Security in Nampula, Mozambique: An Interview With Pathfinder's SCIP Project

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the project combines health goals, including family planning, reproductive health, water, and sanitation, and conservation farming. Led by Pathfinder, SCIP incorporates efforts by Population Services International, World Relief, CARE International, Cooperative League of the United States of America, and the Mozambican government. Nampula province is the most populated area of Mozambique, with favorable agro-ecological conditions, yet poverty and poor health are widespread. Initial assessments identified soil degradation, limited market access, and crop yields averaging 44% below regional benchmarks. The project focuses on four key interventions: farmer training, infrastructure development, irrigation facilitation, and market linkage facilitation. Implementation began in 2009, with over 2,500 farmers receiving training in sustainable agriculture techniques. The SCIP project emphasizes the importance of integrating health and non-health programs to amplify the impact of health programs. The project combines family planning, reproductive health, water, and sanitation with conservation farming to improve quality of life at the household and community level. Community leader councils (CLCs) play a crucial role in facilitating coordination among stakeholders and technical areas and promoting community-driven action to solve health and development challenges. CLCs are small units made up of civil, traditional, and religious leaders, serving as an entry point into the community and creating a favorable environment for increasing the availability of health services. The project has seen significant progress in many areas, particularly in family planning services. Family planning services have increased from covering 4% of women of reproductive age at the end of year one to 10% at the end of year four. This is attributed to the project's efforts to promote family planning through on-the-job training, supportive supervision, and community-based HIV testing and counseling. The project has also strengthened the connection between the public health system and communities, working from both sides to reinforce the zone of interaction between the two. SCIP has established partnerships with local government for water source construction, rehabilitation of peripheral health facilities, and maternal waiting homes. However, the project has faced challenges in documenting its progress due to the complexity of the work, data quality issues, and variation between districts. To address this, SCIP is intensifying its efforts to collect high-quality data and disseminate it with broader audiences. The future of SCIP in Nampula appears promising, with the project aiming to sustain the progress made in improving health and nutrition status and increasing household economic viability. The project's focus on integration and decentralization is expected to lead to higher chances for universal access and more control over health services.