Mozambique receives EUR 34 million from the Netherlands to build flood resilience
Beira will improve its drainage systems thanks to a EUR 34 million co-financing agreement signed between the Governments of the Netherlands and Mozambique. The sum will fund the implementation of the second phase of a drainage system rehabilitation project for the city of Beira.
The project is part of a response package to short and long-term needs brought about after the passage of cyclones Idai and Kenneth, which hit the provinces of Sofala, Manica, Zambezia and Cabo Delgado in 2019, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
Strengthening Beira’s resilience to flooding
The Mozambican Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Carlos Mesquita, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, represented by H. E. Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman, singed a co-financing agreement worth EUR 33.9 million for the second phase of the project rehabilitation of the system of the city of Beira, in the province of Sofala. This agreement secures half of the funding needed for the project implementation. The other half of the funding will be provided by the World Bank.
On the occasion, the Mozambican Ministry stressed that the project will strengthen the city’s climate resilience and contribute to improve the population’s quality of life substantially. “This vital commitment is not only a response to the challenges of the cyclone, but a brave leap towards building a resilient Beira; a collective commitment to the well-being of the population,” said Mesquita.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Mozambique, Elsbeth Akkerman, said that “the rehabilitation work on the drainage and coastal protection system will give the city of Beira greatest resilience against flooding caused by rain and sea water.”
Applying nature-based solutions
The mayor of the city of Beira, Albano Carige, explained that the work will entail the rehabilitation and coating of the drainage system, culminating in the construction of a second stormwater retention basin and a drainage ditch extension of about 12 kilometres.
“Both modifications to the infrastructure are nature-based solutions. As they are sustainable solutions that the Netherlands is promoting around the world, these projects are of the utmost importance to us," said the Dutch diplomat who called for an effective operation and maintenance of the systems for their higher durability and a long-term protection of the population.
Beira’s recovery plans
The Beira Municipal Recovery and Resilience Plan to rebuild the city after it was hit by the cyclone Idai was released in May 2019. The Plan was compiled by a special task force that was assisted by several Dutch water experts. Amongst them were 7 experts from Arcadis' Shelter Program, a corporate social responsibility programme with UN-Habitat.
The first phase of the rehabilitation project of the drainage system of the city of Beira ended in 2019, having rehabilitated 11 kilometres of primary canals.
