Projet ECO-DRR : Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Mozambique is exposed to extreme climatic events (floods, cyclones, droughts), which increase epidemics and lead to human and economic losses, as well as involuntary population displacements. The country ranks 10th among the world's most disaster-prone countries. 
Recent climatic events have confirmed the need to strengthen the country's disaster preparedness and response capacity, as well as the importance of preserving ecosystems, and in particular the capacity of biodiversity to reduce the impact of such events.

The aim of the project is to strengthen the country's disaster preparedness and response capacity and preserve ecosystems to reduce the impact of these events through : 

• Strengthening measures and capacities of disaster risk reduction actors in the Zambezi Delta watershed, at provincial, district, municipal and local levels (communities, Mozambican Red Cross and other local Delta actors).
• The protection, restoration and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems in the Zambezi Delta through the implementation of nature-based solutions.
• The creation of a "climate disaster fund" within BIOFUND to enable conservation areas to access funds to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by natural disasters.
   

By the end of the project, mangrove density will be maintained in the restoration areas and even increased by 10% in the two community conservation areas created by the project. Household livelihoods will be improved as a result of the interventions. 

Community disaster response action plans will be created and validated, and 70% of target community members will be sensitized to the measures to be put in place in the event of flooding. The Mozambican Red Cross will receive training and equipment to respond effectively to disasters.

15,000 ha of mangroves will be placed under sustainable management, thanks to the development of 10 sustainable mangrove management plans, and 390 ha of mangroves will be restored. Lastly, the resilience of the country's conservation area system will be strengthened by creating an emergency fund for natural disasters within the BIOFUND endowment fund.