Project to boost SADC disaster response capacity

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Project to boost SADC disaster response capacity

7:00 CAT | 18 Aug 2025

Photo: WFP Zanbia / X

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Friday that the European Union is contributing three million euros to a regional project aimed at strengthening the disaster response capacity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

These funds will benefit Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The project, entitled “Strengthening SADC’s preparations: Support for an effective response to disasters”, was launched officially in the northern Mozambican port of Nacala, and is scheduled to last for two years.

The initiative is a partnership between the WFP and the SADC Emergency Operations Humanitarian Centre (SHOC). It is being coordinated by the WFP office in Malawi, under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two institutions.

The WFP representative in Malawi, Hyoung-Joon Lim, told the launch ceremony that the programme will allow a change of approach from a reactive to a pro-active stance.

“With the support of the European Union, we can help countries anticipate and prepare better for crises, guaranteeing that vital aid arrives quickly to the affected communities”, he said.

Among the actions envisaged under this programme are strategic and political support to speed up cross-border movement of humanitarian supplies, the pre-positioning of aid at strategic points, training regional search and rescue teams, and setting up a regional crisis fund, that can mobilise resources and staff quickly in times of emergency.

READ: European Union supports WFP disaster preparedness in Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe

The Director of SHOC, Anderson Kambambo Banda, stressed that this partnership strengthens the collective commitment of SADC to protect lives and livelihoods. “Together we are building a more resilient southern Africa”, he declared.

For his part, Pablo Torrealba, head of the EU’s humanitarian aid office for southern Africa, stressed that preparation is key for reducing the impact of disasters.

“Preparation saves lives”, he said. “This project will increase regional capacity and help minimise human and material damage”.

🌍 In Southern Africa, innovation is paving the way for faster, smarter disaster response.

Thanks to the European Union @eu_echo, WFP & SADC are working to ensure communities are prepared. So that next time disaster strikes, we won’t be caught off guard – We’ll be ready. pic.twitter.com/VodgwVwglB

— WFP Zambia (@WFP_Zambia) August 14, 2025