With 800,000 sq km and 18 million people, Mozambique has an extremely low level of national development, with a per capita GDP of $ 237 per year. The current population is approximately 85 percent rural subsistance farmers with little or no education. The United Nations ranked Mozambique as the sixth poorest country in the World (1999), in last position of the 14 SADC countries. The reason why Mozambique was chosen for a pilot project is because of:

• Urgent needs for income generation by the poor farmers;
• Availability of much land;
• Mozambique is for 100% dependent on oil imports;
• Stable government that allows foreign investors to start up businesses in Mozambique, e.g. fled Zimbabwe farmers;
• Good transport roads, from Harare to Beira (harbour);
• Existing partnership with good partners working at the grassroots, ADPP & GAIA Movement, already implementing Jatropha on a small scale.

On behalf of FACT Foundation, an investigation mission of 1 month to Mozambique was made by Jan de Jongh, Arrakis, in January 2006. The developments on Jatropha for bio-fuel production were investigated in four areas: around Bilibiza and Itoculo (North Mozambique) Chimoio & Gorongoza (mid Mozambique). Jacob Zula of GAIA-ADPP was participating in the investigation. A workshop was organised in Chimoio where stakeholders were invited to exchange experiences and to discuss further developments. Some organisations present at the workshop are: ADPP, Caritas, IIAM (Agricultural Research Institute Mozambique), ICRAF (World Agroforestry Center), Environtrade (NGO based in UK), Bio-oleo (company).

The climate and physical conditions in this country are very good for Jatropha. At several places there are full-grown trees, which were planted by the Portuguese some 20 years ago. ADPP (Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo) has started with small nurseries and plantations in conjunction with its teacher training colleges (EPF) and small farmers. The target group of the project, i.e. the small vulnerable subsistent farmers, have very little opportunities to generate cash income. There is presently no market for bio-diesel, but an eye-catching initiative is that by Brendon Evans, a local farmer (originated from Zimbabwe) who produces bio-diesel from cotton seed for his tractor. There is no national policy on bio-fuels yet, but there exists an inter-ministerial workgroup.