Italy has pledged to allocate 235 million meticals (3.7 million dollars) to support the country and the region in mitigating the effects of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has aggravated drought and food insecurity.
According to Agência de Informação de Moçambique, the funding was announced by Paolo Enrico Sertori, director of the Italian Development Cooperation Agency, which operates in Maputo and covers other countries in the region, such as Zambia, Malawi, Angola and Zimbabwe.
The Italian intervention is mainly aimed at Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi, which are facing the impacts of prolonged droughts associated with El Niño.
These countries are dealing with reduced harvests and increased water scarcity, which, according to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD), could jeopardise the food security of 2.3 million people in Mozambique by March 2025.
The Italian support comes at a critical time, as the country’s southern and central provinces, including Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica and Sofala, are facing outbreaks of hunger due to low rainfall.
According to Paolo Sertori, the aid is intended for the distribution of agricultural inputs, such as drought-resistant seeds and means of production, as well as support for the construction of water supply systems and irrigation support structures.
These efforts seek to minimise agricultural losses, strengthen the response capacity of communities and increase the resilience of food production in the face of climate change.
‘The actions are scheduled to begin in 2024, and include direct support for Mozambican farmers. The debate on the impact of El Niño started late in Mozambique, but we want to be swift in supporting affected families,’ emphasised Sertori, adding that the La Niña phenomenon, which succeeds El Niño, could bring excessive rainfall and create conditions for flooding.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation points out that Mozambique and other southern African countries have been heavily affected, with a state of calamity already declared in neighbouring countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
In Mozambique, the Italian support is part of a wider project, the Mattei Plan, which aims to improve living conditions through development initiatives in various areas, including the creation of an agri-food centre in the Central zone, budgeted at 2.5 billion meticals.
In addition to emergency support, Italy has been collaborating with Mozambique on projects that promote rural development, environmental protection and professional training, with initiatives such as strengthening technical education in various provinces, in a partnership valued at 2.3 billion meticals.
