Sustainable flood risk management strategies to reduce rural communities' vulnerability to flooding in Mozambique

Abstract

Abstract In 2000, Mozambique was hit by widespread flooding that affected some 4.5 million people and cost approximately 20% of the country's gross domestic product. In a large, sparsely populated country such as Mozambique, a structural approach to flood risk management cannot be justified on environmental and economic grounds. As a consequence, flood mitigation measures need to focus on nonstructural solutions, such as reducing vulnerability to flooding and improving preparedness. This paper details the development of sustainable flood risk management strategies and the production of educational tools to reduce rural communities' vulnerability to flooding. The tools, which were developed in partnership with local stakeholders, included a Source Book on sustainable flood risk management strategies, a series of posters, a manual and a card game aimed at improving schoolchildren's flood preparedness. These tools were piloted in partnership with three rural communities in the Limpopo River basin in order to develop sustainable flood risk management strategies.