LocationsRenewed partnership aims to strengthen disaster resilience and social cohesion in Mozambique
August 6, 2026
2026 Steering Committee meeting for the Promoting Disaster Resilience and Social Cohesion in Central and Northern Mozambique project, held on Wednesday, 5 August, in Maputo.
Maputo – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Government of Mozambique, through the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening disaster resilience and social cohesion in the central and northern Mozambique.
The commitment was reaffirmed during the Steering Committee meeting for the Promoting Disaster Resilience and Social Cohesion in Central and Northern Mozambique project, held on Wednesday, 5 August, in Maputo. The meeting reviewed implementation progress achieved during 2025 and endorsed the 2026 Annual Work Plan, establishing key priorities and milestones to accelerate delivery following a particularly challenging start to the year, marked by severe flooding that affected parts of the country.
The project addresses the interconnected challenges of climate-related disasters and conflict, recognizing that these overlapping risks continue to underline livelihoods, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Through an integrated resilience approach, the initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of communities and institutions to anticipate, withstand, and recover from both climate-induced and human-induced shocks across the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Manica, Nampula, Niassa and Sofala.
By integrating disaster risk reduction, social cohesion and inclusive development, the project aims to strengthen institutional capacities, enhance early warning systems, and expand resilient livelihood opportunities. Through these interventions, it seeks to equip vulnerable communities with the knowledge, resources, and capacities needed to anticipate, prepare for, and respond effectively to emergencies before they occur.
In his address, Cleophas Torori, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes, emphasized the importance of this integrated approach. "As climate change and conflict increasingly converge, strengthening resilience requires integrated approaches that connect disaster risk reduction, social cohesion, peacebuilding, and inclusive development," he stated.
"This project represents an important step in that direction. By addressing disaster resilience and social cohesion together, it recognizes that sustainable recovery depends not only on protecting communities from hazards, but also on strengthening trust, inclusion, and local capacity" - Cleophas Torori, UNDP Mozambique Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes
Since its launch in June 2023, the project has been implemented with a total budget of US$6.5 million, financed by KOICA and complemented by US$500,000 co-financing contribution from UNDP. The initiative will run through March 2028 and is expected to directly benefit approximately 342,628 people, including 71,070 in central provinces of Manica and Sofala, and 271,558 in the northern provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa, and Nampula.
In her remarks, KOICA’s Country Director in Mozambique, Ah-Young J, highlighted the progress achieved under project to date and reaffirmed KOICA’s commitment to continue working alongside the Government and UNDP to deliver on their shared commitment to strengthening the resilience and well-being of the Mozambican people.
“Together, we have strengthened multi-hazard early warning and risk monitoring through the Crisis Risk Dashboard (CRD). We supported the formulation and official launch of the national Policy and Strategy for the Management of Internally Displaced Persons (PEGDI) 5-year action plan for internal displacement management, and upgraded INGD’s operational Information and Communication Technology capacity, including the capacity building of several government focal points in the 5 provinces in areas of disaster risk reduction and social cohesion”, she highlighted.
“At the grassroots level, we have empowered Local Disaster Risk Management Committees, promoted community dialogue, and strengthened resilient livelihoods for youth and women. These achievements stand as a clear testament to the leadership and ownership of the Government of Mozambique and the dedicated technical execution of UNDP” - Ah-Young J, KOICA’s Country Director in Mozambique.
Reflecting on the project’s impact, Gabriel Monteiro, Vice-President of the INGD, highlighted the meaningful changes taking place in communities and the progress achieved throughout 2025. He also expressed his gratitude for the partnership with KOIKA and the UNDP, whose support played a critical role in responding to the devastating floods that affected the country in early 2026.
“With the institutional support that has been provided, we at INGD can see the impact this project is having, but we would also like the interventions over the coming months to continue to put communities at the centre, so that every beneficiary can feel these results in their own lives,” he said.
In the middle, Gabriel Monteiro, Vice-President of the INGD
Looking ahead, the Project Steering Committee underscored that the approval of the 2026 Annual Activity Plan marks an important step towards building on the progress achieved and expanding project activities across target communities.
To further advance the project's impact and ensure the sustainability of its results, KOICA has approved a 15-month no-cost extension. The additional implementation period will provide the time needed to accelerate delivery, deepen community engagement, and reinforce efforts to improve resilience to climate-related risks while fostering social cohesion in the project areas.
