The President of the Assembly of the Republic, Margarida Talapa, assured that Parliament will continue to pass laws and policies that integrate gender perspectives into natural disaster and risk management, advocating for greater participation by women in decision-making processes and in shaping responses to climate challenges.
Speaking during the opening of the 2nd Conference of Religious, Academic, Political, and Civil Society Women, Talapa reaffirmed the Assembly of the Republic’s commitment to promoting gender equality, emphasizing that women play a central role in the prevention, mitigation, and response to emergency situations.
Quoted by the Agência de Informação de Moçambique, she noted that while women are often the most affected by disasters, they are also active agents of change, resilient leaders, and solution builders, which is why their involvement must be strengthened at all levels of decision-making.
The official highlighted the role of religious women in times of crisis, noting that they are often a source of spiritual comfort, community mobilization, and the promotion of values of resilience and solidarity among affected populations.
Margarida Talapa also highlighted the contribution of female academics to the generation of scientific knowledge and innovation, which are essential for understanding risks, preventing disasters, and formulating more effective, sustainable, and evidence-based public policies.
Women active in politics and civil society, she added, play a decisive role in translating needs into concrete actions, particularly due to their proximity to communities and their ability to respond in emergency situations.
A World Bank report published in 2024 on gender assessment found that conflicts, climate change, and natural disasters continue to pose challenges to the country, particularly for women.
The document also noted that climate change and natural disasters have a greater impact on the health of women and girls, pointing out that empowering women to take greater control over their lives may be the key to achieving gender equality.
Mozambique is in the midst of the rainy season, a period marked by warnings of heavy rains and strong winds, particularly in the central and southern regions of the country, with authorities implementing measures to prepare for flooding in those areas.
The country is considered one of the hardest-hit by climate change, facing recurring floods and tropical cyclones. During the most recent rainy season, between 2024 and 2025, Mozambique was struck by cyclones Chido, Dikeledi, and Jude, which killed at least 313 people, injured 1,255, and affected more than 1.8 million.
Extreme weather events caused at least 1,016 deaths in Mozambique between 2019 and 2023, affecting approximately 4.9 million people, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics.
