# Spatial Analysis of Agricultural Waste and By‐Products to Tackle the Water–Energy Nexus in Rural Mozambique

## TL;DR

This study uses GIS and community input to find ways to use agricultural waste for energy and water in rural Mozambique, aiming to improve sustainability.

## Contribution

The study introduces a participatory GIS methodology to identify and plan sustainable agricultural waste valorization in rural Mozambique.

## Key findings

- GIS tools and local knowledge reveal high-potential zones for bioenergy production from agricultural waste.
- The approach identifies spatial disparities and critical areas for optimizing water and energy resource use.
- The methodology supports inclusive rural resilience and aligns with global sustainability goals.

## Abstract

Addressing energy and water management in rural Mozambique is essential for sustainable agricultural development. This study focuses on Nampula Province, where limited access to these resources deepens socioeconomic and environmental challenges. The research promotes sustainability by identifying, planning, and implementing innovative and socially validated solutions to enhance the water‐energy nexus for agricultural growth. In this study, an integrated approach combining geographic information system (GIS) tools and participatory methods is developed to assess and address local needs. The initial phase involved analyzing the rural context through field surveys, stakeholder interviews, community workshops, and site visits to collect and validate data, using tailored questionnaires and digital platforms. In the second phase, collected data are processed using GIS, building a geodatabase with layers such as land use, crop distribution, water demand, energy needs, and locations of processing facilities. QGIS software is used to map resource potential, deficits, and spatial disparities. These analyses provide key insights to guide sustainable interventions, helping identify critical areas and opportunities for optimizing resource use. This integrated and participatory approach can efficiently ensure the development of solutions that are contextually appropriate, technically robust, and socially validated, thereby laying the groundwork for effective and sustainable resource management strategies in Nampula.

This study presents a geographic information system‐based, participatory methodology to identify high‐potential zones for agricultural waste valorization in rural Mozambique. By integrating spatial data with local knowledge, it reveals opportunities for bioenergy production and sustainable water use. The findings support circular development strategies, addressing the water–energy nexus while promoting inclusive rural resilience and alignment with global cooperation agendas.