On 19 February 2026, within the framework of initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change in Mozambique, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), two events were held to support populations affected by the recent heavy rains and flooding that struck the country at the beginning of the year.
The first event took place in Marracuene (Maputo Province), an area that has already benefited from significant funding from the Italian Development Cooperation, particularly through the A-GEO Programme, which enabled the creation of the country’s first “model beach” in the locality of Macaneta. This is one of the areas most affected by the recent floods, which caused the interruption of the road connection between Marracuene and Macaneta, isolating several local communities.
On this occasion, the Ambassador of Italy to Mozambique, Gabriele Annis, accompanied by the Head of AICS Maputo Office, Paolo Enrico Sertoli, and the Mayor of Marracuene, Shafee Sidat, proceeded with the distribution of 70 food kits, containing essential goods such as flour, rice, and chicken, with the aim of supporting the most affected families.
During the ceremony, the Ambassador underlined that he was present “to bring the solidarity of the Italian people” and emphasized that “despite the distance, the Italian people and the Mozambican people are brothers.” For his part, the Mayor of Marracuene stated that “Italy has provided its support since the very first moment,” recognizing the continuous commitment of the Italian Development Cooperation in favour of the affected communities.
The second event took place in Macate District (Manica Province), where maize and bean seeds were distributed to 26 beneficiaries as part of a strategy aimed at strengthening food security and supporting the recovery of the livelihoods of affected communities. This distribution, carried out with the support of AICS, is part of a broader provincial intervention that, within the framework of the 2025/2026 agricultural campaign, will support approximately 300 beneficiaries overall.
During the ceremony, an awareness-raising session was also conducted for the beneficiaries, highlighting the importance of the proper use of the distributed seeds as essential productive inputs for the upcoming agricultural campaign.
Isaquias, community leader of Macate, expressed his gratitude for the support received and emphasized that “we are committed to using the seeds exclusively for production, following the guidance provided during the awareness session, in order to ensure good results in the current agricultural campaign.” He added that “we believe that, through commitment and joint effort, we will achieve a good harvest and contribute to the development of our community.”