Mozambique Women Entrepreneurs Going Green / 2023

MOZAMBIQUE

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS GOING GREEN

Country Survey Report / 2023

Introduction

Small and medium size businesses (SMEs) going green is an essential step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the Mozambican business community. These eco-friendly practices may include reducing energy consumption, implementing sustainable waste management, and producing and using environmentally friendly products and packaging.

By going green, SMEs can not only contribute to preserving the environment but also reduce their operating costs, improve their brand reputation, and increase their bottom line. Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of their environmental impact and are more likely to support businesses that prioritize sustainability. A commitment to eco-friendly practices can also attract environmentally focused investors and partners, providing additional opportunities for growth and success.

Ultimately, SMEs going green is a win-win scenario - it helps the environment and the business at the same time.

The importance of women entrepreneurs in building green businesses

Women entrepreneurs are playing a crucial role in building green businesses. With sustainability becoming a more significant concern worldwide, women are stepping up to the challenge of creating businesses that prioritize environmental responsibility.

Women entrepreneurs are driving innovation in industries such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, environmental consulting and business services, sustainable fashion and beauty products, and eco-friendly packaging. They are also leading the charge in creating businesses that prioritize social and environmental impacts. Not only are women entrepreneurs contributing to the growth of green businesses and sustainable green jobs, but they are also promoting gender equity in historically male-dominated industry sectors. As women continue to make strides in sustainability, we can expect to see more impactful and environmentally responsible businesses emerge.

About The Survey

The ‘2023 Mozambique Women Entrepreneurs Going Green Report’ is based on research by Lioness Data, the research and insights unit of Lionesses of Africa Public Benefit Corporation, a social enterprise advancing Africa’s women entrepreneurs. Lioness Data taps into a growing network of over 1.7 million women entrepreneurs across Africa to extract actionable insights that help investors, policymakers, and development agencies make faster and better data-driven decisions.

The analysis in this Report is based on a post event survey of members of the Lionesses of Africa network in Mozambique who attended the Green Lioness Lean In event held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Lionesses of Africa presents a series of such women entrepreneur events in Mozambique in association with Standard Bank Mozambique, GIZ, Cooperação Alemã, and Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D).

The survey was conducted online in April and May 2023. A total of 105 respondents took the opportunity to share their experiences as Mozambican women entrepreneurs going green in their businesses.

Objectives

The ‘2023 Mozambique Women Entrepreneurs Going Green Survey’ aims to provide better insights into the important role Mozambican women entrepreneurs are playing in building green businesses, creating green jobs, and contributing to reducing the carbon footprint of the local business community.

Insights were gathered from Mozambican women entrepreneurs in order to:

1. Better understand their impact of building green businesses

2. Assess their commitment and intention to create green products and services

3. Identify the actions and eco-friendly practices they are adopting to become more green and resource efficient

4. Understand the business benefits they have derived from going green

5. Understand how many of their employees are working in green jobs

About the Women Entrepreneur Respondents

Respondents varied from women led-businesses with no staff to those leading businesses with over 100 employees. They reflect a wide range of industries, sizes, and levels of maturity.

Solopreneurs vs Employers

Non-employer Businesses 18% Employer Businesses 82%

Women solopreneurs who lead businesses with no employees

Women entrepreneurs who lead businesses that include employees other than owners and partners

Respondents’ businesses varied in maturity. 18 businesses are less than 1 year old. 50 businesses are 1-3 years old. 18 businesses are 4-5 years old. 10 businesses are 6-10 years old. 5 businesses are 11-20 years old. 1 business was over 20 years old.

Respondents’ businesses varied in size measured by number of employees and by size of revenue.

Employee Size

A majority of respondents (58.1%) employ between 1 and 5 staff fulltime or part-time.

Revenue Size

Slightly more than one third of respondents (34.3%) earn revenues of more than 50,000 Metical per month.

Survey Data

How long has your business been trading?

How many paid employees (full-time and part-time) does your business currently employ, excluding owners and partners?

What is the average turnover (sales) of your business per month in Metical?

What action is your business currently taking to be more green and resource e

What benefits have you achieved from making your business more green and resource efcient?

In your business, how many of your paid employees (full and part-time), work in green jobs some or all of the time?

Key Insights

Green Products And Service Offerings

55%

of women entrepreneur respondents currently ofer green products or services

33%

of women entrepreneur respondents plan to ofer green products or services in the next 12 months

88%

of women entrepreneur respondents are committed to green products or services

Women entrepreneur respondents are committed to creating green products and services.

Taking Action To Go Green

Women entrepreneur respondents are currently taking action in their businesses to go green and become more resource efficient.

95% Of women entrepreneur respondents are currently taking action to go green and be more resource efficient

Top Going Green Actions

Top 6 actions women

Achieving Business Benefits And Cost Savings

Women entrepreneur respondents have achieved business benefits by making their businesses more green and resource efficient.

89%

Almost nine out of ten women entrepreneur respondents identify they are saving money and achieving business benefits from their actions of going green and becoming more resource efficient.

Green Jobs

48%

Nearly half of women entrepreneur respondents have paid employees (full and parttime) working in green jobs some or all of the time.

Women entrepreneur respondents are creating green jobs.

Mozambican Women Entrepreneur Green Business Profiles

Mayra Pereira founder, Gaia EES Consulting

A consulting firm with a focus on energy, environment and sustainability, helping clients transition to a sustainable low-carbon future. www.gaia-ees.com / Learn more

Mayra has a MSc in Environmental and Geographical Sciences and BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management from the University of Cape Town. She has over 10 years experience in the energy and environment sectors, particularly in the fields of research and design (policy, feasibility studies), management of large-scale projects and business development services. Her company operates at the intersection of business and sustainability, helping companies find value and develop integrated strategies to implement projects to meet business needs and enhance their sustainable footprint.

Gaia aims to recognize and advance the concept of women as agents of change and drive transformation towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Karina

Jamal founder, Koko Boxes Lda

A company providing biodegradable and environmentally friendly packaging made from sugarcane bagasse, recycled paper and corn starch. www.kokoboxes.co.mz / Learn more

Karina is the founder of Koko Boxes Lda, a company dedicated to the field of biodegradable packaging and production of paper bags. Koko Boxes has been present in the Mozambican market for 4 years, supplying packaging to hotels, shops, catering companies and restaurants. The company started in 2023 operating as a manufacturer of paper bags as a disposable solution in the reduction of the use of plastic. She would like Koko Boxes to one day be one of the biggest factories manufacturing biodegradable packaging and to become an exporter from Mozambique to the world.

I always wanted to sell a product that was disposable, that people needed every day but that was easy to dispose of and preferably not causing pollution. So, I thought about changing the entire line of products to a greener, less polluting concept that would cause less damage to the environment.

Leocádia Yurca Chau founder, Ecoplus Mozambique, Lda

services.

www.ecoplus.co.mz

/ Learn more

Leocádia is the founder of Ecoplus Mozambique, a SME with extensive experience in the design and implementation of Environmental and Business Sustainability projects. Her company has a dynamic and multidisciplinary team of specialists with solid know-how and experience in project development and management, as well as technical expertise in environmental engineering, aquaculture, circular economy, and occupational health and safety. But above all, people who believe that in community it is possible to make a difference from the exploration of all knowledge.

Our team is made up of passionate and highly qualified specialists, coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, including engineering, human resources, agricultural economics, and biologists, and they act as trainers and mentors, in a diversity of fields …, such as carrying out environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies and project sustainability.

A company operating in the environmental and agribusiness sector providing innovative training and consultancy

Neidy Carvalho founder, Imbe-Consultoria, Serviços e Soluções, Lda

A company helping others companies to become more green and environmentally aware in their day-to-day practices. Learn more

Neidy is the founder of Imbe-Consultoria, Serviços e Soluções, Lda, (CSS). Founded in Mozambique in 2019, it focuses on environmental consultancy, water treatment, HSQ and Energy sector (renewable and non-renewable energy). CSS helps other companies to become more green and environmentally aware in their day-to-day practices by providing environment permits, audits, monitoring and evaluations, environmental studies, and assistance. Neidy now has close on 7 years experience in environmental management and aspires to grow the business further, and help companies and others to be more sustainable as the planet requires of us.

Our set of services aims to help companies to become more environmentally sustainable and environmentally responsible… We want to continue to help companies and others to be more sustainable as the planet requires of us.

Ornília Faife founder, EnviroWorks Solucoes Ambientais, Lda

A company providing general cleaning, waste collection, pest control and gardening services using biodegradable products. www.enviroworks.co.mz / Learn more

Ornília is the founder of EnviroWorks Solucoes Ambientais, Lda, a company helping clients to clean their environments. Her company specializes in environmentally friendly solutions for industrial cleaning, post-work cleaning, disinfection of environments, solid waste collection, pest control and gardening. The company uses biodegradable products and guarantees that its services are aimed at the comfort, health and well-being of their customers. Plans for the future include expansion into all provincial capitals, and developing greater capacity to provide services for big projects.

My greatest satisfaction in being an entrepreneur is working on what I like, achieving my goals, being able to create jobs for young people, and contributing to the development of my community.

Carmen Miral founder, Black Khakhela

A proudly environmentally-friendly Mozambican brand celebrating natural hair and beauty products. Facebook Page / Learn more

Carmen is the founder of Black Khakhela, a company making plastic-free shampoo and natural beauty products that are kind to users and to the environment. She wants people to experience African and Mozambican beauty secrets. She produces a natural deodorant formula without aluminum, and hair products specifically formulated for kinky hair. Her aim is to deliver a message to the world that Mozambique’s culture, its creativity, and awareness of the environment is in every product, and in each carefully selected natural ingredient.

“By making plastic-free shampoo we want to elevate our conscience about taking care of our environment. We value our identity so much and we want people to experience African and Mozambican beauty secrets.

Mary Macheze founder, Othuka Eventos

A company turning recycled products into a sustainable business. www.othukaeventos.com / Learn more

Mary is a registered lawyer, however being passionate about the environment and the rescue of traditional moral values, she set up her company, Othuka Eventos in 2019. She is determined and committed to making a sustainable contribution to the environment and transmitting values that can make today's children into better people of the future. What makes her business special is that it creates and improves a relationship bond between parents and children. It also teaches about Mozambican culture, traditional games and helps to create a sustainable environment, as well as also teaching about the importance of recycling.

We sell recycled products based on cans and bottles, considered garbage by some people and yet raw material for us.

Filomena Matimbe founder, Finana

A sustainable agri-business specializing in Banana Flour processing and dry banana. www.facebook.com/finana / Learn more

Filomena, founder and ceo of Finana, extends the agri-value chain of bananas, specializing in banana flour processing and dry banana. She brings five years of experience to this sustainable and environmentally friendly business. Finana has won multiple awards including the world Gold Medal at the II World of Inventors and Innovators Forum, and also a SANBio award in Mozambique 2017. Banana flour is available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies. It is also served as a snack in schools and in the largest hospital in the country.

My company is the result of my master's thesis with the theme: "creating business through the processing of banana flour" which was inspired by the desire to find ways to extend the lifespan of bananas.

Aurora Matavel founder, SCS, Lda

A company providing ecological cleaning services and integrated pest control that preserve the environment. Learn more

Aurora Matavel, is an experienced and award-winning entrepreneur. The business of SCS, Lda is focused on providing ecological cleaning services and integrated pest control. The business helps preserve the environment by off

ering eco-friendly furniture washing and pest control services. She founded the business 2 years ago and now employs 5 people, many of them women from the Local Community. She has 5 years of experience in business and in customer service with one of the main banks in the country.

What inspired me to start my company was my passion for environmental impact businesses and the need to create my own job and for other people.

Lutea Magaia Alberto founder, Mentes Sustentáveis (Sustainable Minds)

A company that designs and implements environmental education programs and activities for schools, and public and private sector companies. www.mentessustentaveis.co.mz / Learn more

Lutea Magaia Alberto is an Environmental and Agribusiness professional. She founded Mentes Sustentáveis in 2019 and has over the years been a pioneer in raising awareness of Mozambique’s environmental problems and bringing practical, ecological and sustainable solutions. Since then she has been dedicated to the development of eco-business models, development of eco-friendly products and carrying out environmental education activities, contributing to the green ecosystem in Mozambique.

“We have years of work experience and the knowledge of the Mozambican reality, in addition to being pioneers in the search for environmentally friendly alternatives.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are demonstrating a strong commitment to building green businesses that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility. As founders, women are recognizing the impact their businesses have on their planet, their country, and their community. They are using their businesses to drive meaningful change. Whether it's through the creation of new green products and services, using eco-friendly materials, implementing sustainable production methods, or by saving energy and water, women entrepreneurs are demonstrating that business success and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive. By prioritizing sustainability and green business, women entrepreneurs are working to build a better future for Mozambique while also setting an example for future generations of startup businesses.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are committed to building green businesses. They are demonstrating real commitment with 95% of respondents stating they are currently taking action to go green and be more resource efficient.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are committed to creating green products and services. 55% of respondents currently offer green products or services, and a further 33% plan to introduce a green product or service in the next year. This bodes well for Mozambique, as creating green products and services provides many benefits for both businesses and the environment. Importantly, producing environmentally friendly products and services can appeal to a growing segment of Mozambican consumers who are conscious of their impact on the planet. Ultimately this can lead to both economic and environmental benefits for the country.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are achieving business benefits by going green. Almost nine out of ten respondents identified they are saving money and achieving business benefits from going green and becoming more resource efficient. They are demonstrating that going green makes sound business sense. This will hopefully encourage more women-led SMEs to follow their example, expanding the number of green businesses and sustainable business practices in Mozambique.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are creating green jobs. Nearly half (48%) of the respondents identifies they have paid employees (full and part-time) working in green jobs some or all of the time. These women entrepreneurs are fulfilling a critical role in creating employment, specifically by prioritizing sustainable business practices and creating green jobs. Green jobs not only contribute to mitigating environmental risks but also provide decent work, promote economic growth, and enhance the well-being of individuals and communities. By creating green jobs, women entrepreneurs are making a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building a sustainable future for all Mozambicans. Overall, the women entrepreneurs in this survey report a strong dedication to building green businesses that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility. Their potential to help Mozambique drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, especially green jobs, and to mitigate climate challenges is evident. Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are showing themselves to be up to the task. They do, however, require better and more effective support from policymakers, funders, big businesses, and influencers to fullfill their promise.

About Lioness Data

Lioness Data is the research and insights unit of Lionesses of Africa Public Benefit Corporation, a social enterprise advancing Africa’s women entrepreneurs. Lioness Data taps into a growing network of over 1.7 million women entrepreneurs across Africa to extract actionable insights that help investors, policy makers, and development agencies make faster and better data-driven decisions.

Lionesses of Africa builds and delivers development programmes, business tools, community platforms, digital media, networking events and information resources that women entrepreneurs need - connecting them with key global markets for growth. Lionesses of Africa’s community stretches across 54 African countries and thousands of users in the Diaspora in Europe and North America. For further information about Lionesses of Africa, visit www.lionessesofafrica.com

Acknowledgments

Lionesses of Africa would like to thank all the women entrepreneurs who gave of their valuable time to participate in the 2023 Mozambique Women Entrepreneurs Going Green’ Country Survey. We are grateful to all our community network members across Mozambique who make it possible for our team to advance our mission to provide reliable data and insights.

Lionesses of Africa would also like to acknowledge those individuals who contributed to designing, collecting, and reporting on this survey. We are especially grateful to Nomalanga Sitole, our Lioness Enterprise Ambassador, and to Natalie Irwin, our Lionesses of Africa Community Manager for their invaluable contributions.

Lionesses of Africa would like to thank its impact partners on the Green Lioness Lean In events series for women entrepreneurs in Mozambique in April and June 2023Standard Bank Mozambique, GIZ, Cooperação Alemã, and Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D).