Aerial view of brickworks

Multi-dimensional resilient recovery of the Ibo and Buzi districts

A path to stability through skills development and employment-intensive works in cyclone-hit Mozambique

Lucas Cavalane, a young resident of Guara Guara, Mozambique, gains skills in soil-cement block production through an ILO resilience project, creating new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

7 February 2025

Members of production units, trained and supported by the ILO's Employment-Intensive Investment Programme, use local resources and skills to produce soil cement bricks and and support the reconstruction process. Buzi, Sofala, Mozambique. 11/2024 © Samuel Simango Jr/ILO

In Sofalà Province, Lucas Cavelane has found hope and a new beginning in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. Living in Guara Guara, Búzi District, in a resettlement area for those displaced by Cylone Idai, Lucas faced an uncertain future. Unemployed and relying on temporary jobs, he struggled to secure a stable income.

However, an opportunity for change arrived through the Resilient Multidimensional Recovery Project, a collaborative initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN-Habitat, and UNESCO, funded by the Italian Development Cooperation Agency (AICS). 

Lucas was among 25 selected beneficiaries—both men and women—trained in the production and application of soil-cement blocks. The program provided hands-on training focused on labour-intensive techniques, equipping participants with practical skills to establish sustainable enterprises. By promoting environmentally friendly construction practices, the initiative not only creates jobs and boosts local economies but also supports a just transition towards environmental sustainability. 

For Lucas, this training marks a turning point—offering him the opportunity to build a better future for himself and his community. 

Credit
Caetano Bernardo/ILO
Default Caption
A young resident of Guara Guara, Mozambique, gains skills in soil-cement block production through an ILO resilience project, creating new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
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Employment-intensive investment
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Employment-intensive investment

Multi-Dimensional Resilient Recovery of the Ibo and Buzi Districts
Group of project beneficiaries next to stacks of soil cement bricks

Multi-Dimensional Resilient Recovery of the Ibo and Buzi Districts

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Mozambique’s Ally excels in the production of soil cement-blocks

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