COVID-19 vaccination takes place in Malika IDP settlement in Mozambique’s northern Niassa province on 29 May 2022. © WHO / Alexia Dickinson
Mozambique
Mozambique is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, ranked first on the Climate Risk Index for most-affected nations. Cyclones, floods and droughts have become increasingly frequent and severe, with devastating effects on livelihoods, food security and public health. Tropical Cyclone Freddy in 2023, which damaged or destroyed over 129 000 homes and displaced more than 640 000 people, underlined the urgent need for climate-sensitive emergency preparedness and response (EPR) systems that can anticipate, absorb and adapt to repeated shocks. Compounding these risks are Mozambique’s socioeconomic challenges: the country is among the world’s 10 poorest, with over 70% of its rural population dependent on climate-sensitive agriculture.
ALLOCATION
US$ 6.4 M
PARTNERS
Ministry of Health, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fishing, IOM, UNICEF, FAO
NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE
Co chaired by Dr Ivan Manhiça, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health. Established 20 Jan 2025
Climate-related health challenges
Mozambique’s long coastline and exposure to tropical storms make it uniquely vulnerable to a range of health threats linked to climate change:
- Frequent cyclones and flash floods, particularly in central and northern provinces such as Zambezia and Cabo Delgado, regularly destroy infrastructure and trigger outbreaks of cholera, dysentery and other waterborne diseases.
- Recurring droughts, especially in the southern regions, exacerbate food insecurity, malnutrition and poor sanitation, all of which contribute to weakened immunity and poor health outcomes.
- The increasing geographic spread of vector-borne diseases, including malaria, is associated with changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures.
- Contaminated water sources and insufficient food safety systems have led to rising risks of food- and waterborne illness, particularly in displaced and rural communities.
- Irregular migration and porous borders increase the risk of transboundary disease transmission, while informal settlements often lack climate-resilient infrastructure.
These complex and compounding risks require integrated, multisectoral strategies that bridge climate, health and socio-economic dimensions of resilience.
Early warning and disease surveillance systems
Mozambique will expand its climate-sensitive surveillance systems through:
- A comprehensive surveillance landscape analysis and implementing a national integrated health surveillance system.
- Strengthening Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and community-based surveillance systems, alongside real-time electronic surveillance (eIDSR).
- National and provincial risk profiling using STAR tools, while updating the National Risk Profile and National Health Emergency Response Operations Plan to include climate hazards.
- Reviewing and improving the National Action Plan for Health Security, informed by Joint Internal and External Evaluation findings.
- Approving and implementing the national surveillance and outbreak preparedness plan (HNAP) for climate-sensitive diseases.
- Enhancing food safety and water quality monitoring.
Laboratory systems
To improve laboratory readiness and environmental testing capacity, Mozambique will:
- Strengthen laboratory capabilities for the routine diagnosis of priority zoonotic diseases and expand antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance.
- Conduct environmental health laboratory assessments and enhance capacity for air, water and waste analyses.
- Train laboratory personnel in updated testing protocols, biosafety and biosecurity practices, and infectious substance handling (ISST).
- Review and update laboratory guidelines and standard operating procedures across human and animal health sectors.
- Procure necessary laboratory equipment and materials to ensure sustainable diagnostic readiness.
Strengthening human resources and public health workforce
Mozambique will build a more agile and inclusive emergency workforce through:
- Conducting a National Bridging Workshop to align One Health stakeholders and updating legislation governing human, animal and environmental health sectors.
- Establishing a national One Health coordination committee and developing a multisectoral Rapid Response Team (RRT) roster.
- Training national and provincial RRTs, and establishing Level 1 Emergency Medical Teams to improve rapid deployment capacity.
- Updating district-level RRT capacity through mentorship, supervision and refresher training.
- Conducting simulations and cross-border dialogues to support preparedness and joint response with neighbouring countries.
- Operationalizing the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the national level and establishing provincial PHEOCs in high-risk regions.
- Training senior managers and Public Health Emergency Management focal points in emergency coordination, supported by early-, intra- and after-action reviews.
- Integrating gender responsiveness and equity into EPR and One Health planning frameworks.
Mozambique’s strengthened public health workforce will play a critical role in advancing a climate-resilient health system, capable of protecting communities from both immediate shocks and long-term health threats.
Other goals
Madagascar will:
- Develop public health emergency operations centres (PHEOCs) with joint simulations, equipment and digital tools.
- Launch a Leadership Capacity-Building Programme and create a Gender-Responsive, Multidisciplinary Leadership Network aligned with the Global Health Emergency Corps.
- Create joint SOPs and platforms to strengthen EPR leadership, coordination and cross-sector learning.