African Ministers Adopt Maputo Communiqué on Disaster Resilience Financing
African ministers adopt a communiqué in Maputo on financing disaster prevention, as a report shows 719 disasters and $9.8bn in losses in 2023–2024.
The story in focus
African ministers and heads of delegation adopted the Maputo Ministerial Communiqué on 15 October 2026, closing three days of talks on financing disaster prevention and strengthening institutions. A report launched at the conference recorded 719 disasters and about US$9.8 billion in direct economic losses in 2023–2024.
- The communiqué sets priorities including integrating risk assessments into development plans and public spending.
- The Fourth Biennial Report recorded an increase in reported disasters, from 612 in 2021–2022 to 719 in 2023–2024.
- Two regional investment proposals, for the SADC Cyclone Belt and the Benguela Current Region, remain under development.
Evidence of rising losses
The conference, convened by the African Union Commission and the Government of Mozambique in Maputo from 13 to 15 October 2026, followed pre-conference events on 12 October. It brought together governments, regional institutions, financing and development partners, civil society and technical experts.
The Fourth Biennial Report on the Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework, launched at the opening, documented an increase in reported disasters from 612 in 2021–2022 to 719 in 2023–2024. In the latter period, African Union Member States reported more than 65,000 disaster-related deaths and approximately US$9.8 billion in direct economic losses. The report says recurrent shocks force families to spend savings on rebuilding and governments to divert development resources to repeated repairs.
Investment proposals and financing constraints
Ahead of the conference, Member States examined the proposed SADC Cyclone Belt Resilience Investment Programme and the Benguela Current Region Drought Resilience Investment Portfolio. The consultation was convened by SADC, the African Union Commission, UNDP, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa and UNOPS. Both proposals remain under development.
The Cyclone Belt proposal seeks to capture and store water from extreme rainfall for irrigation, groundwater recharge and energy generation, linking infrastructure with early warning and restoration of mangroves and watersheds. The Benguela proposal focuses on water storage, transfer and distribution across shared basins, ecosystem restoration and stronger community institutions, drawing on lessons from Angola's Cafu Canal.
Technical sessions on financing highlighted limited fiscal space, fragmented institutions and demanding appraisal requirements. Participants raised concerns about lengthy funding procedures that can leave feasibility studies outdated, and the need to strengthen local contractors' procurement and risk-management skills.
Next steps
The adopted communiqué provides a common direction for advancing the Windhoek Declaration. Priorities include connecting early warnings to clear responsibilities and financing for action before impacts occur, and preparing institutions and financing arrangements for recovery before disasters strike.
Taking these priorities forward will require country-led investment preparation, institutional capacity and accountability for delivery, according to the source. UNDP said it will work with member states, SADC and partners to embed risk evidence in planning, preparedness and recovery.
What losses did African Union Member States report for 2023–2024?
The Fourth Biennial Report recorded 719 reported disasters in 2023–2024, with more than 65,000 disaster-related deaths and approximately US$9.8 billion in direct economic losses reported by Member States.
Sources & further reading
- African leaders adopt Maputo communiqué to advance disaster prevention and resilience investment ↗undp.org
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