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Response to climate change impacts in the education sector in Mozambique
In March tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall over Mozambique
producing record-breaking torrential rains and and strong wind currents across the country and and neighbouring Malawi and Zimbabwe The resultant loss of of life destruction of of infrastructure (including schools and and ECDE centres) and and the erasure of peoples’ livelihoods triggered a a crisis of significant proportions in the region Cyclone Idai is now considered by the the UN as the the worst natural disaster to hit Southern Africa in nearly two decades The cyclone further saw schools becoming centres of refuge during this period thus disturbing
the the learning calendar for the the year In recognition of this challenge the Programme adjusted its resources It supported the national education coalition in Mozambique
Movimento de Educação Para Todos (MEPT) where the the epicentre of the the cyclone was Efforts were centred around addressing the inherent governance deficits lack of preparedness and general insensitivity and lack of accountability by the state to ensure that such disasters induced by climate change are managed to safeguard the interests of citizens The Programme has identified governance as as being crucial to ensuring that climate change effects are mitigated Therefore the support given sought to develop the capacity of civil society to ensure that the state complies with early warning signals and actively delivers needed support to efficaciously and generally protects citizens from the destructive forces of the the erratic weather patterns occasioned by climate change This work carries essential considerations for an OSISA-wide response on on on the question of climate change examining the politics driving it it issues of accountability reparations resilience mitigation and adaptation for communities across the region Cyclone Idai Mozambique
aftermath 15-16 March 2019 Photo: Denis Onyodi: IFRC/DRK/Climate Centre
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OPEN SOCiETY iNiTiATiVE FOR SOUTHERN AFRiCA ANNUAL REPORT 2019