EU–UNICEF Partnership Achieves Major Reduction in Child Stunting in Sofala

Maputo, Mozambique — Nearly six years after Cyclone Idai, one of the most devastating climate shocks to hit Mozambique, communities in Sofala’s six most affected districts are showing remarkable progress. Thanks to the partnership between the Government of Mozambique, the European Union (EU) and UNICEF, recovery efforts and resilience building have translated into concrete, measurable results — including a reduction of up to 35% in chronic malnutrition among children under five in intervention areas.

This achievement reflects the impact of an integrated, multisectoral approach combining health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Over the course of implementation, the programme reached 400,000 children with essential nutrition services, provided 650,000 people with access to safe drinking water, and certified more than 37,000 households as “model families” — recognised for adopting good practices in health, hygiene and nutrition.

In sanitation and hygiene, the programme helped over 2,000 communities become free from open defecation (ODF), benefiting more than 780,000 people. Many of these communities are located in Chibabava and Muanza, which were officially declared ODF districts. Access to basic sanitation improved by 20%, while dietary diversity increased significantly for both families (24%) and children (33%).

Integrated actions also contributed to stronger health outcomes. Cases of childhood cough and fever dropped by 8% and 14.7%, respectively — clear evidence of the combined impact of improved health, nutrition and hygiene practices. Additionally, caregivers’ knowledge and engagement in early childhood stimulation increased by 4%, driven by social and behaviour change efforts and the influence of model families.

After five years of implementation, the impact evaluation provides solid evidence of the transformative effect of this integrated approach. Coordinated, multi-sector interventions targeting the same communities generate far greater improvements in child growth, development and wellbeing than isolated actions. The findings reinforce the importance of convergence — a core principle of UNICEF’s programme framework — and highlight the tangible benefits of intersectoral collaboration supported by EU funding.

The partnership between the European Union and UNICEF remains committed to supporting vulnerable families in Mozambique, ensuring that every child has access to quality nutrition and the chance to reach their full potential.