In Mozambique, the regional water authorities (ARAs) are undertaking impactful water licensing campaigns with support from the Blue Deal program. These campaigns aim to promote sustainable water use, regulatory compliance, fair access across key river basins, and improve ARAs financial sustainability.
In the footsteps of ARA-Sul, IP, ARA-Norte, IP and ARA-Centro,IP started launching targeted communication campaigns designed not just to inform about their duties and responsibilities but to inspire water users to get licensed and pay for the exploitation of water.
Direct engagement with water users and the development of trust
Focused on promoting “Safe and Healthy Water”, ARA Norte’s campaign focused on visiting farmers, industrial users, and private water providers to answer their questions, explain their legal obligations, and help them register on the spot. Supported by radio, TV, and community meetings, this hands-on approach built trust and led to a significant increase in licensing applications and compliance.
On the other hand, also aiming at behavioural change, ARA Centro,IP turned to radio campaigns to call for the licensing of water users in the three river basins under its authority and promote a better understanding of the ARAs' role.
Inclusive water management
It is estimated that the ARA Norte,IP and ARA Centro,IP campaigns reached well over 500,000 people across the river basins under their management. These campaigns broke down language barriers and social exclusion, with messages delivered through face-to-face interactions, radio and TV, in both the official language (Portuguese) and local dialects.
Expanded understanding of water governance and the road ahead
These campaigns prompted the need for increased engagement with communities and led to the application of new water users, who started to see the water licensing process not as bureaucracy, but as a necessary action to ensure its sustainable exploitation. Developing deeper community partnerships to support inclusive water governance and further identification of water users are key activities for ARAs Customer Service Departments. The Blue Deal partnership will continue working on these subjects with the ARAs, as they plan to carry on their communication activities and direct outreach for this year.
