Mozambique is a low-income, food-deficit country with a large rural population of 20 million. It ranked 182 out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Index. HIV is the primary cause of death.

Preliminary numbers indicate that a record 5 million people are food insecure and need urgent support.

A vast majority of Mozambicans are too poor to afford a nutritious diet, and malnutrition remains a major underlying cause of child mortality in children under 5.

Mozambique is also one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world and one of the most vulnerable to extreme climate events such as droughts, floods and cyclones. These, coupled with annual lean seasons and economic shocks, regularly threaten food security.

El Niño-induced drought – one of the most intense in Mozambique’s recent history – has devastated crops, resulting in poor harvests and soaring food prices. Furthermore, cyclones Chido and Dikeledi have affected 1.4 million people.

Ongoing conflict is driving hunger in Cabo Delgado and in its neighbouring provinces, Niassa and Nampul, which are both hosting internally displaced people in need of urgent lifesaving and life-sustaining humanitarian assistance.

The World Food Programme (WFP) supports the Government, with a focus on improving food and nutrition security as well as strengthening the resilience of individuals and communities in the face of multiple shocks. 

WFP assisted 2.1 million people across all provinces in 2024, linking emergency assistance to early recovery and resilience-building efforts that address the root causes of vulnerability. 

What the World Food Programme is doing in Mozambique

Emergency response
WFP provides half-rations (in-kind and/or cash-based transfers) due to resource limitations. In 2024, 1.3 people in emergency were assisted. To ensure that food assistance reaches those most in need, WFP has been rolling out a vulnerability-based targeting in Cabo Delgado. To respond to immediate needs, WFP also supports displaced communities with general food distributions – for an initial 15 days – before they are integrated into the regular cycle.
Nutrition and HIV
WFP provides life-saving assistance in shock affected-areas, focusing on children under 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, including people living with HIV. In 2024, around 86,000 beneficiaries had access to a more nutrient-dense diet through food and cash-based transfers. WFP continues to assist over 48,000 individuals in central Mozambique with an integrated package of health, nutrition, gender, agriculture and climate-resilience support.
Climate resilience
WFP focuses on natural-resource management, sustainable agriculture, climate services, financial inclusion and disaster risk financing, to enhance community resilience and sustainable development. In 2024, more than 10,000 farmers (51 percent female farmers) successfully adopted climate-smart agricultural practices in their fields, promoting long-term sustainability, and another 34,000 farmers participated in comprehensive trainings in post-harvest management, with a focus on low-tech innovations like hermetic bags.
Disaster risk management and social protection
WFP focuses on natural-resource management, sustainable agriculture, climate services, financial inclusion and disaster risk financing, to enhance community resilience and sustainable development. In 2024, more than 10,000 farmers (51 percent female farmers) successfully adopted climate-smart agricultural practices in their fields, promoting long-term sustainability, and another 34,000 farmers participated in comprehensive trainings in post-harvest management, with a focus on low-tech innovations like hermetic bags.
School meals
WFP supports the Government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which provides hot meals to more than 242,000 students across 340 public primary schools throughout Mozambique. In addition, WFP implements complementary home-grown school feeding programmes in 142 schools, reaching over 112,000 students, and distributes dry food baskets in emergency or recovery contexts to improve access to nutritious meals.
United Nations Humanitarian Air Service
The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, managed by WFP, provides a safe, effective and efficient air transport service for humanitarian workers. It enables the delivery of life-saving assistance in hard-to-reach locations in northern Mozambique, to support people in areas where there are no other means of transportation due to insecurity and inaccessible roads. UNHAS is especially crucial during the cyclone season.

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Mozambique is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
African Development Bank Austria Canada European Union Finland

Operations in Mozambique

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Contacts

Office

Rua 1109, perpendicular a Av. Paulo Samuel Kankhomba, Malhangalene A, KaMpfumo, Maputo
Mozambique

Phone
+258 21482200;+258 857110648
Email
mozambique.reception@wfp.org
For media inquiries
mozambique.externalrelations@wfp.org
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