GCA supporting the case for Climate-Resilient Transport Corridors in Mozambique
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otterdam, Netherlands, 1 July 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is supporting the Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience project in Mozambique, a US $123.3 million investment just approved by the World Bank to upgrade and future-proof the strategic Nacala corridor. This lifeline linking the inland provinces of Niassa and Nampula to the Port of Nacala underpins regional trade integration with Malawi and Zambia, supports small-scale farmers and mining communities, and connects more than four million people to domestic and international markets. In coordination with the World Bank and Mozambique’s National Road Administration, GCA is providing an evidence-based approach to identify and prioritize impact-oriented solutions to strengthen the trade corridor’s resilience to climate change.
Mozambique faces some of the highest climate-related risks in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2019’s cyclones Idai and Kenneth inflicted over US $3 billion in damages—impacting nearly 30 percent of the country’s road network. More recently, Tropical Cyclone Jude in March 2025 caused extensive damage, including to 230 km of roads and 6 bridges along the Nacala corridor in the Naissa and Nampula provinces, underscoring the urgent need for resilient design and proactive maintenance.
As part of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, GCA is providing technical assistance to the World Bank and Mozambique’s National Road Administration (ANE) to integrate climate resilience into the TRACER Mozambique project (the second of a series of projects). This includes supporting climate risk and vulnerability assessments for the Nacala corridor and its feeder roads, advising on innovative and cost-effective adaptation solutions for road design and maintenance, and helping build institutional capacity for climate-resilient transport planning.
Climate risk screening and rapid stress test already conducted by GCA reveals that climate exposure along the corridor is expected to steadily increase in the future, with damages from fluvial flooding alone projected to rise by 80% under a high-emissions (RCP8.5) scenario. Several vulnerable hotspots were identified along the corridor, many of which were confirmed by the damage caused during Cyclone Jude, reinforcing the need for targeted adaptation measures to protect the most at-risk and vulnerable segments and ensure effective resource allocation.
Building on these findings, GCA is developing the financial and economic rationale to demonstrate the long-term returns of proactive adaptation investments versus the recurring costs of reactive repairs. These insights help inform strategic decision-making for climate action and strengthen the business case for climate-resilient infrastructure.
“Transport corridors are lifelines for food security, livelihoods, and trade,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of GCA. “By integrating robust climate risk analysis, innovative nature-based interventions, and tailored capacity building, our collaboration with the World Bank and Mozambique’s National Road Administration will help safeguard critical infrastructure and foster inclusive, long-term resilience across communities.”
GCA’s support builds on its global track record in climate-resilient transport and nature-based solutions, reinforcing its role in shaping high-impact adaptation investments across Southern Africa and beyond.
