Beyond emergency relief

Mozambique remains highly vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate related shocks. In recent years, agricultural communities across the country have faced repeated extreme weather events, including cyclones such as Chido and Jude, widespread flooding across southern and central regions, and severe El Niño-induced drought affecting key production areas. With forecasts indicating the potential emergence of another El Niño event in the coming seasons, concerns remain high over the likelihood of future climate-related disruptions affecting agricultural production and rural livelihoods. These recurring shocks continue to disrupt livelihoods, damage agricultural production systems and deepen food insecurity for millions of rural households.

In humanitarian emergencies, timely assistance is essential to help affected families meet immediate needs and restore agricultural production. However, as climate shocks become more frequent and intense, each emergency response efforts must also contribute to longer-term recovery and resilience. At the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), emergency agricultural interventions are designed not only to support immediate recovery, but also to strengthen communities’ capacity to better withstand future shocks. By promoting sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices, supporting access to locally adapted inputs and strengthening farmers’ technical knowledge, FAO is helping vulnerable communities recover while building more resilient livelihoods.

Responding to flood while strengthening drought preparedness through anticipatory action

FAO recognizes that timely action before a crisis reaches its peak can significantly reduce the impact of climate shocks on agricultural livelihoods. Through evidence-based anticipatory action approaches, FAO supports the Government of Mozambique in strengthening preparedness and early response mechanisms.

Using data and analysis from the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), FAO works with national and local authorities to improve early warning systems, preparedness planning and pre-agreed anticipatory actions. By acting on credible forecasts, including the potential impacts of El Niño-induced drought, communities can take preventive measures ahead of expected shocks.

In Mozambique, FAO’s anticipatory actions have included the distribution of drought-tolerant and short-cycle seeds, support for water harvesting systems and small-scale irrigation, promotion of conservation agriculture and climate-smart agriculture practices, and training on sustainable water management, compost production and biopesticides. These measures help vulnerable households safeguard productive assets, reduce losses and strengthen resilience before disasters strike.

Dignity and choice through market-based assistance

When disasters occur, rapid agricultural support is critical to ensure that farmers can access inputs in time for the planting season. Equally important is ensuring that assistance is delivered in ways that strengthen local systems and support farmers’ agency and decision-making.

During the 2026 fresh-season response, FAO supported vulnerable households in Gaza and Sofala provinces through an e-voucher distribution campaign designed to restore agricultural production following floods and other climate-related shocks. The intervention covered the districts of Chibuto, Guijá, Mabalane, Mapai, Massangena, in Gaza Province, and Buzi, Chibabava, Machanga, Nhamatanda in Sofala Province.

A total of 17 365 households were registered against a planned target of 17 118 households. By the end of the distribution process, 15 599 households had redeemed their e-vouchers, representing 89.8 percent of registered households and 91.1 percent of the planned target. In Gaza, 9 032 households redeemed vouchers, reaching 99.1 percent of the provincial plan. In Sofala, 6 567 households redeemed vouchers, reaching 82.1 percent of the provincial plan.

Through the e-voucher system, farmers received a non-transferable voucher valued at MZN 3 200, validated through a biometric verification system. The approach enabled farmers to select the agricultural inputs most suited to their production needs, while also strengthening local markets. Local agrodealers supplied certified seeds, hoes, watering cans and other essential materials through localized agricultural input fairs organized near affected communities.

The distribution data also highlights the central role of women in agricultural production and household recovery. Women accounted for 11 348 of the 15 599 households that redeemed vouchers, or nearly 73 percent of all redemptions. Registration through the biometric e-voucher system strengthened women’s participation by enabling them to access assistance directly, securely and independently, increasing their control over resources and their role in the household and programme-related decision-making. By placing purchasing choices directly in the hands of beneficiaries, the system also reinforced women’s agency throughout the assistance process.

Sowing resilience through climate-smart agriculture

Beyond immediate assistance, FAO continues to work alongside communities to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices and reduce dependence on repeated external support. Through participatory group-based training approaches, as well as through individual coaching and capacity-building activities, farmers test and adopt climate-smart agriculture techniques adapted to local conditions and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. FAO also works closely with the District Services for Economic Activities (SDAEs), strengthening local extension capacities through Training of Trainers approaches that enable extension officers to continue supporting communities beyond the project timeframe. In parallel, FAO field technicians and SDAE extension agents provide direct technical training to farmers at community level, promoting the adoption of resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.

These practices include improved planting methods, crop rotation, soil and water conservation and integrated pest management approaches. Training also focuses on longer-term self-reliance by developing practical skills in seed multiplication and post-harvest storage, helping households preserve inputs and prepare for future agricultural seasons. Communities also learn to produce natural biopesticides and biol, an organic liquid fertilizer, using locally available materials to improve soil health, reduce production costs and promote environmentally sustainable farming practices. Many of these approaches build on existing local knowledge and traditional good practices, while promoting the sustainable use of locally available resources. As a result, communities are able to continue applying and adapting these techniques well beyond the duration of project interventions.

A call for partnership and sustained investment

With millions of people in Mozambique continuing to face acute food insecurity sustained investment in resilient agricultural livelihoods remains essential. Mozambican farming communities continue to demonstrate strong capacity for recovery and adaptation when supported with appropriate tools, knowledge and resources.

Agriculture offers one of the strongest returns on humanitarian and resilience investments: FAO estimates that every USD 1 invested in agricultural support can generate up to USD 3 in local food value, while helping households protect their livelihoods and reduce future assistance needs. Yet despite the fact that up to 80 percent of acutely food-insecure people live in rural areas, only a small share of humanitarian funding is directed toward food production and agricultural recovery. Strengthening investment in resilient agrifood systems therefore remains critical not only for immediate recovery, but also for reducing future vulnerability to climate-related shocks.

The 2026 e-voucher intervention illustrates how timely agricultural assistance can support both emergency response and long-term recovery. Building on these efforts, FAO, in support to the Government of Mozambique, is implementing the Mozambique Floods Recovery Plan 2026–2031, which aims to restore agricultural production, rebuild livelihoods and strengthen resilience in flood-affected communities. The plan seeks USD 107.66 million to support 1.8 million people between 2026 and 2031 through integrated recovery and resilience-building interventions. Under the broader framework of FAO’s Emergency and Resilience Plan for Mozambique, these efforts aim to expand support to vulnerable agricultural households across the country while strengthening communities’ capacity to better withstand future climate-related shocks.

Achieving these objectives requires continued collaboration with government institutions, donors, technical partners and local communities. The 2026 e-voucher intervention was implemented through the joint efforts of the Government of Mozambique and FAO, with financial support from Austria, Belgium, Norway and the European Union. Investment in timely, high-quality and environmentally sustainable agricultural interventions remains critical not only for immediate recovery, but also for strengthening long-term food security, resilience and rural livelihoods across Mozambique.