From 6 to 9 June 2023, at the invitation of the Government of Mozambique and its partners, ICCROM facilitated a workshop on disaster risk management organized by UNESCO on the Island of Mozambique, a World Heritage site.
The capacity-building workshop was organized within the framework of the project to build community resilience to climate-related hazards through disaster risk management and was attended by cultural heritage managers, local communities and other related groups.
Workshop participants developed practical guidelines for disaster mitigation, preparedness and response for various types of heritage on the island, including vernacular settlement, coastal fishing areas, the old mosque and a museum. These guidelines were formed based on lessons learned from the 2022 cyclone Gombe, which caused significant damage to the island’s cultural heritage, and field exercises conducted during the workshop. They will help in preparing a comprehensive disaster risk management plan that will be linked with Mozambique’s conservation and management plan, which is currently under preparation.
At the conclusion of the workshop, local groups, including the municipality, department of culture and community-based organizations, formed themselves into emergency teams for initial response.
