OCHA’s emergency response team ensures aid flows seamlessly in Mozambique

By Sergio da Silva, OCHA staff and leader of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team

When we landed in Mozambique on 23 January, the scale of the emergency created by Tropical Storm Fytia's impact was immediately palpable. 

Rains from neighbouring countries that drain their water to the ocean via Mozambique caused flooding that had swept across Mozambique’s Gaza Province.

Homes had been submerged, communities cut off triggering a national emergency.

We – a team of 24 coordination experts – was the largest I had led. The UNDAC team is the UN’s emergency response team managed by OCHA, supported by donor country partners.

Mozambique is no stranger to disasters, but even here - where resilience is a way of life - the speed and intensity of the flooding had created gaps that no single actor could fill alone.

Our mission was clear: reinforce national response structures, not replace them. 

But as soon as we arrived, it became evident that information was fragmented, actors were working in parallel, and decision-making was hampered by the lack of a common understanding of how the response should be coordinated.

My first task was to listen to colleagues and partners - from OCHA already in the country, INGD [Mozambique’s National Institute of Disaster Management], national NGOs, and affected communities. The aim was to understand where we could meaningfully add value without disrupting what was already in motion.

Understanding the lay of the land

Unlike many UNDAC deployments, Mozambique already had a strong OCHA presence. This meant that our work had to be complementary to theirs and highly targeted.  

We found that information was not flowing efficiently and assessments were being duplicated. Decision-makers lacked the visuals and analysis needed to prioritize limited resources under enormous pressure. Our job was to help bring some coherence so that the collective response could function as a unified whole, with one main goal – to help communities.

Early response

The people affected by the flooding had faced unbelievable hardship and yet their resilience and strength were nothing short of extraordinary.

The lesson that came through strongly in every community I spoke with was how much Mozambique’s anticipatory action systems mattered in those first days. 

“If we had waited, we wouldn’t be here” – is what so many families told me as early warnings gave them precious hours - sometimes a full day - to move livestock and evacuate before the waters rose.

OCHA had released US$4.5 million for anticipatory action from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) five days ahead of the expected impact of the cyclone. The funding had allowed partners to push out early‑warning messages, support evacuations, and distribute essential aid supplies.

Restoring clarity

One of UNDAC’s strengths is its ability to act as a bridge, and that is exactly what we did. By embedding our team directly inside INGD structures, we were able to streamline communication, clarify roles, and help the Government lead with confidence.

We produced maps and analytical products that gave authorities a clear, concise overview of needs, gaps, and response coverage. These became essential tools for operational planning.
We also worked closely with INGD and regional partners - particularly SADC [the Southern African Development Community] - to ensure that assessments were harmonized and feeding into a coherent picture. When we found operational bottlenecks, we acted quickly. For instance, several helicopters - critical for reaching isolated communities - were underused simply because there was no system for prioritizing requests. We introduced simple scheduling and prioritization mechanisms with INGD. The impact was immediate: flights were used more efficiently, and assistance reached those who needed it most, and fast.

We also strengthened INGD’s capacity to manage stocks of aid items and track incoming relief goods, which has helped to build a more resilient logistics backbone for future emergencies.

Engaging the private sector

For the first time in a deployment I led, our UNDAC team included a private‑sector specialist. This proved invaluable. Many private entities are always eager to help, but their efforts are not always connected to real needs.

Picture this. From the onset, the private sector in Mozambique was able to mobilize more than $6 million in financial and in-kind donations, a powerful show of solidarity with people in need. What was needed next was a structured interface between the private sector, humanitarian actors, and national authorities, to channel support where it could have the greatest impact. This is what Rihza Neri, UNDAC’s private sector specialist, did. She ensured these efforts remained sustainable by providing guidance materials and training sessions and has left behind tools that will continue to serve Mozambique long after our departure.

National partnerships

From day one, our approach was about enabling national leadership. Trust had to be earned. As we worked side by side with INGD - sharing analysis, clarifying processes, responding to challenges - we forged a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding.

National NGOs and civil society also played a central role. Their dedication, proximity to communities, and deep contextual knowledge were vital. We worked to ensure their contributions were recognized and integrated into coordination structures.

Memories that will stay

What stays with me most are the people of Mozambique. Despite the difficult conditions, families in accommodation centres found ways to support each other - cooking together, caring for children collectively, sharing what little they had. National NGOs worked tirelessly, often with minimal resources but unwavering commitment. INGD staff, many themselves affected by the floods, kept working late into the night.

Their resilience, dignity, and determination shaped this response more than any system or tool. Our role was simply to help create coherence around their efforts.

As we departed, I felt confident that the systems strengthened during our deployment and the relationships built—would continue to support Mozambique’s response to disaster in the months and years to come.