Partners support communities to anticipate the impacts of El Niño-driven drought in Mozambique

Southern Africa is bracing for a severe drought, driven by a strengthening El Niño. During the 2026/27 agricultural season (November 2026–January 2027) rainfall is forecast to be delayed and below average levels, coupled with above-average temperatures across the region. In Mozambique’s Mutarara District, partners are acting now to support communities at risk from the drought.

The Mutarara Drought Anticipatory Action Project covers 36 communities in Tete Province, one of the regions set to be affected. With funding worth 200,000 British pounds (approx. 267,000 US dollars/233,000 euros) from Start Network’s Start Fund, it will support 4,653 households (around 23,265 people) across three localities: Canhungue, Charre-Sede and Inhangoma-Sede. The actions include:

• drought-resilient seed kits (maize and cowpea) for all households to help them maintain production despite the shortened and irregular rainy season

• food assistance, provided via vouchers, to help 400 of the most vulnerable households through the lean season

• rehabilitation of 10 boreholes, which will benefit around 600 households by reducing their reliance on unsafe water sources, which carry the risk of water-related diseases (e.g., cholera)

• information on nutrition, provided before and during the lean season, to help households make better use of locally available foods and adopt healthy nutrition practices.

The actions will prioritize female-headed households, households with children under five, pregnant/lactating women, older persons and persons with disabilities. They will be carried out over 60 days during the October 2026–January 2027 window, meaning they can be completed ahead of the forecast peak of the drought’s impacts.

World Vision is leading the overall coordination of these actions, while also directly implementing efforts focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning. It has been continuously active in Mutarara for four years through its sponsorship programme, meaning it is well placed to lead these efforts. Local implementing partners include the Agência de Desenvolvimento Económico de Manica, which is responsible for the food security and livelihoods components.

The activation is being carried out in close coordination with government partners as well. Alongside INAM’s role in drought forecasting, trigger monitoring and establishing the Ready, Set, Go classification:

• INGD is ensuring the actions align with other disaster-risk-management and preparedness activities; it will also participate in the planned after-action review

• District Services for Economic Activities is providing technical guidance on drought-resilient seed varieties

• District Services for Infrastructure and Planning is providing technical validation of water sources and borehole rehabilitation

• District Services for Health, Women and Social Action is providing technical guidance on nutrition messaging, aligned with Ministry of Health standards

• the Emergency Operations Centre and the Mutarara District Government are ensuring alignment with other district preparedness and response plans. 

Mozambique’s National Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group is also involved in the activation (technical alignment and learning). There is also ongoing coordination with other Start Network members and relevant coordination clusters (food security and livelihoods, WASH) to avoid the duplication of efforts and ensure complementary geographic coverage of anticipatory actions, as other agencies are also beginning to act to anticipate the drought.