The African Development Bank Group has approved a $1 million emergency relief grant to support Mozambique's response to the devastating floods that struck the country's central and southern regions, particularly Maputo and Gaza provinces, in January 2026.
The approval follows a formal request by the Government of Mozambique for the African Development Bank's emergency support to accelerate recovery operations and deliver life-saving assistance to the most affected communities.
The grant, financed through the Bank's Special Relief Fund (SRF), aims to assist communities affected by the disaster. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will implement the relief project, drawing on its expertise in managing displacement and humanitarian aid.
The initiative will deliver 9,000 emergency shelters and essential household kits, benefiting approximately 45,000 people, especially women and children. The intervention will include transportation, installation, storage, site preparation, hygiene promotion, and environmental cleaning activities.
"We are deeply grateful for the African Development Bank's swift and positive response to our appeal. This emergency grant will allow us to restore safety and dignity for thousands of affected households through the rapid provision of temporary shelters and essential household items," said Mozambique's Minister of Finance, Carla do Rosário Fernandes Loveira. "As the Government continues leading the national emergency response, this partnership strengthens our ability to protect lives, stabilise communities, and begin the path towards recovery."
Dr Laura Tomm-Bonde, IOM Chief of Mission in Mozambique, added: "Lives and livelihoods have been upended across the affected provinces, and the needs on the ground remain immense. We are grateful to the African Development Bank for this vital contribution, which comes at a critical moment for thousands of families displaced by the floods. This support enables IOM to rapidly deliver emergency shelter and essential items, while reinforcing national efforts led by the Government. As climate-related shocks intensify across the region, strong partnerships like this are essential to protect communities, strengthen preparedness, and ensure that no one is left behind. IOM remains fully committed to working side by side with the Government and our partners to restore safety, dignity, and hope for affected families."
IOM has reached 2,510 households (approximately 12,550 individuals) across Gaza and Maputo provinces under its emergency flood response project. The latest distribution on 19-20 May assisted 495 households at the Filipe Samuel Magaia Resettlement Centre in Boane District, Maputo Province. This follows earlier support to 2,015 households in Xilembene community, Chókwè District, Gaza Province, between 31 March and 11 April.
Assistance comprised shelter and non-food item kits, including tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, and solar lamps, alongside awareness-raising sessions on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Building Back Safer.
Looking ahead, IOM and the Government have identified Mabalane and Manjacaze districts as the next priority locations for implementation. IOM teams are working closely with local authorities to finalise assessments in these areas, and in other Government-priority locations, to inform the final distribution plan and meet project targets.
This intervention by the Bank builds on its ongoing commitment to innovative disaster response, including the recent use of drone-assisted assessment part of the Drone-Based Disaster Management Project financed and supported by the African Development Bank Group through the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund, to improve rapid relief delivery.
"The affected communities are facing extraordinary hardship. By supporting the Government in partnership with IOM, we are making sure that help reaches families swiftly and effectively when they need it most. Our teams will remain closely engaged with the Government to strengthen response efforts," said Rômulo Corrêa, the Bank's Resident Representative in Mozambique. "This disaster has pushed national resources to the limit, and the African Development Bank stands firmly with Mozambique during this critical time. By pairing urgent shelter support with cutting-edge drone assessments, we are helping guarantee that assistance is fast, transparent, and targeted to the people and areas with the greatest need."
The Special Relief Fund grant reinforces the African Development Bank's long-standing commitment to Mozambique's resilience and recovery, representing both immediate relief for affected communities and an investment in future preparedness.
