Mozambique expects to need almost EUR 350 million to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon El Niño severe in the rainy season 2026-2027, having already guaranteed almost half of the value through external support, announced today the Government.
© Lusa
17/09/2026
by
Lusa
O minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Fernando Rafael, said, at the opening of the XII Coordination Council of the Ministry that directs, that forecasts for the next rainy season point to the occurrence of a severe El Niño, with a higher incidence in the South and Center of Mozambique, and may cause a significant reduction in precipitation, prolonged periods of drought and, punctually, intense rainfall.
According to the minister, given the possible impacts of the phenomenon, the government decided to anticipate the response and prepared a plan of 401 million dollars (EUR 349.2 million), covering areas such as water resources and water supply, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, health, education, social protection and food assistance.
“The government is aware of the scale of this challenge, so it has decided to act before the most severe effects are felt and prepared a Mitigation Plan valued at around 401 million US dollars,” he said.
From the overall amount envisaged, the government secured US$ 125 million (EUR 108.9 million) through external support, with around US$276 million to fully finance the interventions envisaged in the plan, according to Fernando Rafael, who added that the mobilisation of resources should continue with the State Budget and partners.
The plan provides emergency food assistance for 343.773 people, corresponding to some 68,755 families, while social protection measures should cover around 234 thousand families. In agriculture, interventions are planned for more than 155,000 farmers and 90,500 livestock farmers, with priority for areas potentially most affected by drought and water scarcity.
Among the measures envisaged are the construction and rehabilitation of water supply systems, dams, reservoirs and multipurpose holes, the distribution of drought-resistant seeds, the protection of livestock, the strengthening of school feeding, nutritional and health care and support to the most vulnerable families.
“ The response will be implemented in a phased manner, starting with the immediate preparation and response, following recovery and stabilization and, later, the strengthening of resilience and prevention,” said Fernando Rafael, defending a response aimed at protecting populations and strengthening the capacity of communities to face future droughts and other extreme climatic events.
The mitigation plan, whose details were revealed today, was approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, with the spokesman of the Government, Salim Valá, explaining that the instrument provides for the strengthening and replacement of water safety for human consumption, irrigation and drinking cattle, as well as the preparation of the health, education, energy and industry sectors for the possible impacts of the phenomenon.
On the same occasion, the Government indicated that a multisectoral team is deepening the assessment of El Niño's financial and social impacts.
The executive had already warned of potential effects in at least 52 districts of the South and Center regions, while a technical analysis coordinated by the Technical Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security pointed to a possible 55% worsening of acute food insecurity by March 2027, to 1.84 million people.