Mozambique
Mozambique is uniquely vulnerable to weather-related disasters, and the Government of Mozambique is partnering with international donors to build resilience in a number of sectors.
Overview
Mozambique is one of the countries in Africa that is most vulnerable to weather-related disasters. Its coastal cities are highly exposed to flooding and tropical storms that are expected to intensify as a result of climate change, and its southern regions experience recurrent droughts. The Government of Mozambique has taken a number of steps to improve resilience.
Risk Environment
Mozambique is highly vulnerable to flooding, tropical storms and droughts. The country has experienced several deadly tropical cyclones, including Cyclone Idai in 2021 and Cyclone Freddy in 2023. Rapid urban population growth, poorly planned settlements and a lack of adequate housing make Mozambique’s coastal cities vulnerable to increasingly strong coastal storms. Natural disasters destroy classrooms, disrupting education; cause epidemics; and cost the country millions of dollars a year in economic losses.
Resilience Approaches
The Government of Mozambique has taken a number of steps to improve resilience, including establishing a National Law on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, which provides a governance framework for national and local disaster risk reduction, and empowering local governments and communities to become disaster risk management champions. In partnership with international donors, it is also working to:
- Promote climate-smart, conservation agriculture.
- Build resilient health systems through improved analytics and risk mapping.
- Improve water, sanitation, roads, land tenure and agriculture.
- Implement sustainable urban planning, resilient coastal communities and improved building codes.
- Increase financing for climate adaptation and resilience building.
Opportunities for Strengthening Resilience
Projects are currently underway to improve water management infrastructure and build schools that meet resilience standards. Activities that aim to build resilience in Mozambique include:
- Furthering investments aimed at disaster risk financing.
- Investing in end-to-end climate information services and early warning systems for multiple sectors, including agriculture and health.
- Developing building codes and comprehensive land-use planning.
- Integrating risk information in development and contingency plans.
Related Resources
Climate risk profile: Mozambique
12 Feb 2021 - ATLAS - Adaptation Thought Leadership and Assessments
This profile provides an overview of climate risk issues in Mozambique, including how climate change will impact agriculture, human health, coastal resources and water. This brief includes a country...
Innovations for Drought Resilience Two Ways in Mozambique and Tanzania
15 May 2020 - Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Markets, Risk and Resilience
Drought-tolerant seeds are designed to protect farmers from moderate, mid-season drought, but can still fail when conditions are severe. In Tanzania and Mozambique the project paired drought-tolerant maize (DTM...