The acting director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Mozambique, Vasco Nunes, said that the impact of natural disasters in the world, and particularly in Mozambique, means that a new approach must be adopted when designing construction projects, with the aim of guaranteeing resilience and quality of life for people.
“Buildings resilient to climate change are those designed and built to withstand and adapt to the impact and other environmental challenges, minimising damage and ensuring long-term sustainability,” he explained.
Speaking on Tuesday, 12 December, during the presentation of the main conclusions of the “Assessment of Mozambique’s Resilient Buildings Market” report, he said that it had been found that the country shows a high level of awareness of climate risks, but that it has not yet fully implemented the recommendations, pointing out that, at some point, “the country may find it difficult to access funding for construction issues if the scenario does not change”.
“Mozambique is one of the ten most fragile countries in Africa in terms of climate. From 1950 to 2022, the country recorded 90 cyclones. Three cyclones a year occur in the pearl of the Indian Ocean,” he emphasised.
The report was presented in Maputo at a round table that brought together political decision-makers, industry experts, construction companies, international developers, insurance companies and the United Nations Housing Organisation (UN Habitat).
The IFC is a member of the World Bank and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets.
