Mozambique Collaborates with AFD Bank on Deploying Drones to Enhance Disaster Readiness
Mozambique, one of Africa's most disaster-prone countries, has taken a significant step towards strengthening its disaster preparedness. The African Development Bank (AfDB), Mozambique's government, and Korea's Busan Technopark have launched a groundbreaking drone-based disaster management initiative.
This innovative project, active since mid-2025, aims to leverage drone technology to improve Mozambique's ability to anticipate and respond effectively to natural disasters. The initiative has garnered support from high-level political figures, including Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo and AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, reflecting its significance and positive regional impact.
The project includes the deployment of a drone monitoring and response system across five high-risk flood zones. The initial implementation timeline is set at six months, with a tripartite agreement signed at the launch event paving the way for the full rollout and long-term sustainability of the project.
Thirty professionals, including ten drone instructors, will be trained at a drone training center set up in Maputo to ensure local expertise in managing the system independently for at least three years. The project reflects the power of international cooperation to protect lives and promote sustainable development, according to Flavio da Gama, AfDB Country Economist.
The initiative is part of AfDB's broader push to boost climate resilience and digital transformation across Africa. With total project funding of $967,000 from the KOAFEC Trust Fund, the project is a testament to the increasing financial and technological support from multinational collaborations.
Korea, a global leader in drone technology, is deepening partnerships in Africa to promote digital innovation and real-time data systems for crisis response. If successful, the drone model could be replicated in other disaster-prone regions, potentially turning Mozambique into a regional hub for drone-based disaster management.
Muchanga Américo, Mozambique's Minister of Communication and Digital Transformation, said, "This is just the beginning." The project is part of broader efforts within the natural disaster management market, which is growing due to increasing use of advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and drones to improve crisis forecasting and response.
Changmoon Yang, Managing Director of Busan Technopark, added that technology can save lives. The initiative is aimed at improving Mozambique's preparedness for climate-related crises, demonstrating a promising future for disaster management in the country.
- The drone-based disaster management initiative in Mozambique, driven by the integration of environmental science and smart home devices, harnesses real-time data from drones to enhance climate-change forecasting and response, which aligns with the African Development Bank's broader mission to boost climate resilience and digital transformation across Africa.
- In light of Mozambique's vulnerability to natural disasters, the incorporation of technology – such as data-and-cloud-computing and drone technology – into its environmental-science practices, as demonstrated by this project, could position Mozambique as a regional hub for drone-based disaster management solutions, showcasing the potential for replication in other climate-change-prone regions.
- As Korea further strengthens partnerships in Africa to promote technological advancements like drone technology, the successful implementation of this initiative will underscore the crucial role that smart gadgets and cutting-edge tech solutions play in saving lives, particularly in disaster-prone regions like Mozambique.
