Background

Mozambique is among the most disaster prone countries in the world - combined with high levels of poverty and weak national institutions. The occurrence of natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, drought and earthquakes has consistently had a significant impact on people and the economy. It is estimated that as much as 25 percent of the population faces a high mortality risk from such events, and the country ranks as the second most geographically exposed country in Africa.

Climate change effects have the potential to increase this risk in the future, and can easily undermine development efforts and increase vulnerability of poor people, who depend disproportionately on the environment for their livelihoods. This dependency also highlights the necessity for consideration of sustainable resource use and environmental conservation in poverty alleviation interventions, irrespective of climate change concerns.

Additionally, the legacy of the violence of years past in Mozambique continues to pose a real, albeit diminished threat. Residual mines, unexploded ordnance and questionable safety of stockpile depots are issues that demand attention, if a safe environment for sustainable development is to be guaranteed.

Accomplished in 2009

During the year, many synergies were reinforced through the Delivering as One joint UN programmes in the areas of disaster risk reduction and climate change, in ongoing recognition of the need for coherence in these inter-related areas.

One result of this increased coordination was the launch of the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC) study on Adaptation to Climate Change, which was recognized as a solid step towards reducing climate risk in Mozambique.

2009 also saw the signing of the Africa Adaptation programme, a major initiative across 21 African countries including Mozambique, aimed at establishing an institutional framework to manage climate change risk. It also aims to ‘climate-proof’ development policies and projects in priority sectors.

Likewise, south-south cooperation was strengthened in disaster risk reduction through regional workshops and study tours in knowledge management for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction, within the framework of the regional DIPECHO project.

Within Mozambique, a simulation exercise for emergency preparedness was realized by INGC, in addition to the ongoing UNDP-supported work in capacity building, development of a national Disaster Database and resettlement activities in Mutarara district, Tete.

UNDP also provided disaster risk reduction-related inputs to the PARPA II (Mozambique’s Second Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty) review process. Environmental, climate change and mine action concerns relating to PARPA were also addressed.

Under the Unit UNDP continues its long work in supporting the National Demining institute in implementing the national mine action plan and three NGOs in their demining activities.