The working relationship between the African Union Commission (AUC) and the republic of Mozambique continues to be strengthened. Mozambique is hosting SADC’s Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC).

Following a request from the Government of Mozambique to the AUC to support the operationalization of the center, the latter organized a joint assessment mission together with SADC secretariat, UNDRR, UNDP, and IFRC and the CIMA Foundation on 25^th – 29^th April 2022 to assess the center. These events also come at a time when the President of Mozambique has recently been elected by the AU Assembly in February 2022 to be the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Champion for Africa.

The assessment started by paying a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the President of INGD (the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction) in Maputo. Later the assessment team met with partners and stakeholders and briefed them about the objectives of the assessment and informed them about the progress on the establishment of the SHOC as well as the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Situation Room by the AUC.

The team then proceeded to Nacala for the assessment of the SHOC. After completion of the assessment the team returned to Maputo and briefed all the prior groups met before on the findings of the assessment. Lastly the assessment team briefed the office of the President of Mozambique on the findings of the assessment, advisory and way forward. In addition, the office of the President was briefed on the roadmap for the Africa DRR Champion for the coming three years.

Partners who participated on the mission indicated interest to support SADC and the SHOC. The need for the interoperability between the SHOC and the Continental Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action situation room was emphasized. Through the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Situation Room, the AUC will ensure coordination between the SHOC, Regional Situation Rooms and Continental Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action Situation Rooms for Knowledge and data sharing. AUC, SADC and partners have agreed to organize follow up meetings to coordinate the pledged support and lessons learning.

Mozambique recently hosted the 17th session of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (AWGDRR) earlier in the year.

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate | African Union Commission|+251-911-630 631; Molalett@africa-union.org

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment | E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube