Africa - Southern
Mozambique ranks 181 out of 189 on the Human Development Index (HDI). CARE International focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term development projects in Mozambique.
CARE International began operations in Mozambique in 1984, initially focusing on emergency assistance and food distribution for people who were affected by the protracted war between government and rebel forces.
From 1990 to 1994, CARE Mozambique expanded its project portfolio to include disaster recovery and development activities.
In March and April 2019, Mozambique was hit by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, two of the strongest storms to ever hit the country. The cyclones caused massive damage to infrastructure, including houses, schools, and major roads. On top of this, Mozambique was facing a food insecurity emergency.
In response, CARE International worked with the government of Mozambique to assess the damage and meet immediate needs, including tents and materials for temporary shelter, and hygiene kits to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks. We are working to support longer-term needs through the construction of latrines and by distributing school kits.
Following the end of the war in 1992, CARE Mozambique shifted towards longer-term development projects in the following sectors:
The humanitarian crisis in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado is worsening due to conflict and climate change-induced drought, affecting millions, especially women and children. With severe food insecurity and underfunded humanitarian response, CARE urges donors to increase aid and prioritize gender equality in climate policies to support vulnerable communities.
Southern Africa is currently experiencing the worst dry spell season in over 40 years. Coupled with an ongoing cholera situation, the region is on the cusp of a humanitarian crisis.
Over 2 million people in Southern Africa have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy and Tropical Storm Cheneso. These extreme weather patterns brought death, destruction, and displacement of families and whole communities.
Seven years of conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique has displaced over 583,000 people, leaving communities struggling with water shortages, hunger, and trauma while humanitarian funding remains critically low at 37.7% of needed support.
Since 2017, the rights, safety, and future prospects of women and girls in the region have been gravely affected.
“These days things have changed. My husband supports me and in taking the child to under 5 appointments. [Husband] cooks and prepares the food for all to eat and we even laugh together now.”
Mozambique has the thirteenth highest level of women’s participation in parliament in the world yet, at the same time, a third of women report experiencing violence, reflecting entrenched gender inequalities within society. These inequalities contribute to women and girls appearing to be the worst-affected by Cyclone Kenneth, subject to greater food insecurity and increased risk of gender-based violence.
In Mozambique the current El Niño induced drought, the worst in 35 years, has led to significant changes in dietary diversity and consumption patterns particularly among women and adolescent girls.
Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 35 years. In a region in which more than 70% of the population depend on agriculture, this has caused the worst food security crisis since 1991/92.
In FY2023, CARE worked around the world, contributing to saving lives, fighting poverty, and increasing social justice.
