SUSTAIN – Sustainability and Inclusion Strategy for Growth Corridors in Africa – Page 2

SUSTAIN is a 10-year initiative advancing sustainable food systems and productive landscapes in Tanzania and Mozambique. It drives climate-resilient development that balances economic growth, ecosystem stewardship, and social well-being — demonstrating how agriculture in Africa can thrive sustainably and inclusively.

THE CONTEXT: Climate and economic challenges

The economies of Tanzania and Mozambique rely heavily on agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Large parts of their populations live in rural areas, depending on subsistence farming and natural resources for their livelihoods. Both countries are highly vulnerable to climate change – from increasingly frequent cyclones in Mozambique to severe droughts in Tanzania – resulting in major economic losses that affect millions of people and their well-being.

PHASE 1: Building partnerships and laying the foundation

Launched as a multi-year initiative, SUSTAIN Africa concluded its first phase in 2020, implemented across the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) and the Zambezi Valley in Mozambique. This phase built a strong foundation of partnerships among businesses, government agencies, local communities, and farmer groups to promote sustainable food systems. By taking a holistic approach – integrating value chains, markets, and the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of food production – SUSTAIN demonstrated that lasting sustainability depends on healthy, well-functioning ecosystems.

Download the PHASE 1 results report

Discover #SUSTAINStories, a campaign celebrating the inspiring people and communities in Mozambique and Tanzania who, through SUSTAIN’s locally driven interventions, are building resilience for economies, people and nature.

Discover SUSTAIN/stories

SUSTAIN OBJECTIVES

Enable inclusive governance, equity and rights in natural resources management

Implement and scale up sustainable agriculture and innovative Nature-based Solutions to generate inclusive and sustainable business and livelihood opportunities, restoring land health.

Catalyse innovative and inclusive investments in healthy ecosystems, sustainable agribusinesses and value chains.

This initiative continues today through two complementary programmes: SUSTAIN ECO and SUSTAIN PRO – both grounded in equity and inclusion, and aimed at accelerating the transition from business as usual to development models that strengthen the resilience of economies, people, and nature. Together, they represent the next phase of SUSTAIN-Africa, building on its achievements and lessons learned from the first five years. The geographical footprint and partnerships established during that initial phase form the core of interventions under SUSTAIN ECO and PRO, ensuring continuity and fostering long-term sustainability.

Protect and restore ecosystems to secure the services needed for sustainable livelihoods, including agricultural production.SUSTAIN Eco (2023 – 2025) aims to enable healthy ecosystems and prosperous communities in Tanzania by improving governance and rights, strengthening sustainable management practices and catalysing investment in the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, the delivery strategy encompasses:

strengthening coordination amongst governance structures for sustainable and inclusive management of natural resources;
integrating landscape management to improve ecosystem health and generating inclusive business and livelihood opportunities and
investing in the protection and restoration of ecosystems and their services and strengthen climate resilience for people and ecosystems.

The programme is being implemented in two landscapes in Tanzania; Sumbawanga and Kilombero.

Download SUSTAIN Eco brochure

Support the implementation of healthy food systems making agriculture more sustainable SUSTAIN Pro aims to support sustainable food systems and healthy productive landscapes in Mozambique and Tanzania.

The delivery strategy encompasses:

upscaling solutions for sustainable agriculture production;
restoring land health through multi-stakeholder partnerships and
investing in sustainable and inclusive value chains to drive systemic change.

The programme is being implemented in two landscapes in Tanzania; Ihemi and Kilombero, and two landscapes in Mozambique; Vanduzi and Baruè.

Download SUSTAIN Pro brochure

News

Stay updated on our progress

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Meet AWF’s ecohydrologist working to restore Tanzania’s ecosystems

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SUSTAIN Eco, a new project aiming to balance sustainability with growth in Tanzania, launched

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SUSTAIN initiative launched in Mozambique

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Launch of SUSTAIN Pro

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