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@article{204745,
        author = {Henry Omara and Assoc. Prof. Mark Kiiza and Runyararo Munondo},
        title = {Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security at the Climate-Conflict Nexus: Evidence from Conflict-Displaced Communities in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {3771-3788},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204745},
        abstract = {The combined effects of conflict and climate change increasingly threaten agricultural livelihoods and food security in vulnerable regions, yet evidence on the effectiveness of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in conflict-displaced settings remains limited. This study assessed the impact of CSA on food security among conflict-displaced communities in Mocímboa da Praia District, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, a region affected by protracted insurgency, recurrent droughts, and flooding. A mixed-methodology approach was adopted and enabled collection of required data, combining household survey data from 202 households with focus group discussions, interviews, and field observations conducted across four communities. The findings indicate that CSA practices, particularly drought-tolerant cassava cultivation, short-cycle crop varieties, and mulching, contributed to improved food availability and strengthened household resilience to climate- and conflict-related shocks. However, the adoption and effectiveness of these practices were constrained by limited access to extension services, certified agricultural inputs, and institutional support. Conflict-related losses of livestock, farming tools, and other productive assets further undermined agricultural recovery and livelihood restoration. Food insecurity remained widespread, characterized by seasonal food shortages, reduced meal frequency, and low dietary diversity, with household diets heavily dependent on starchy staple crops. Female-headed households, especially widows, experienced disproportionate labour and resource constraints that heightened their vulnerability. The study concludes that CSA represents an important resilience-building strategy in conflict-affected contexts but cannot, on its own, overcome the structural barriers that perpetuate food insecurity. Strengthening agricultural extension systems, improving access to productive assets and quality inputs, promoting labour-saving CSA technologies, and integrating CSA interventions with livelihood recovery and peacebuilding initiatives are essential for enhancing food security and fostering long-term resilience among conflict-displaced populations.},
        keywords = {Climate-Smart Agriculture, Food Security, Conflict-Displaced Communities, Resilience, Conflict-Affected Settings},
        month = {June},
        }