The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a €3 million contribution from the European Union (EU) to support a regional initiative designed to strengthen disaster preparedness in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The initiative, launched in Nacala, Mozambique, will focus on Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe under the two-year project titled “Strengthening SADC Preparedness: Supporting SHOC for Effective Disaster Response.” The programme is a partnership between WFP and the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC).
The project seeks to improve the region’s ability to deliver life-saving assistance more rapidly and efficiently when emergencies occur. By reinforcing preparedness, the initiative aims to help communities receive timely support, reducing the impact of crises before they escalate further.
Key components of the project include providing strategic and policy support to ease cross-border humanitarian operations, pre-positioning relief supplies in critical locations, strengthening search and rescue efforts, and offering specialized training to regional emergency response teams. WFP Malawi will coordinate and implement activities across the participating countries in line with the WFP-SADC Memorandum of Understanding.
The initiative will also enhance decision-making processes through the use of artificial intelligence and improved data systems at SHOC, enabling early action to protect vulnerable communities. Furthermore, the creation of a new regional crisis fund will facilitate rapid deployment of resources and personnel, ensuring timely interventions during emergencies.
WFP Country Director in Malawi, Dr. Hyoung-Joon Lim, described the initiative as a significant milestone for regional collaboration, highlighting that the EU’s support will shift the focus from reactive responses to proactive disaster preparedness. Anderson Kamdambo Banda, Director of SHOC, emphasized that the partnership demonstrates a collective commitment to safeguarding lives and building resilience across Southern Africa.
Echoing this, Pablo Torrealba, EU Humanitarian Aid Head of Office for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean, underscored that preparedness is critical to saving lives and minimizing humanitarian impacts. Together, WFP, SHOC, SADC, and the EU are taking an important step toward ensuring that no community is left behind in the face of climate shocks and natural disasters.
