In the aftermath of Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019, Mozambique faced significant challenges as it sought to recover from the widespread devastation. In response, the Cyclone Idai and Kenneth Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project was launched with the goal of rebuilding while enhancing climate resilience, particularly in Beira, a city that suffered greatly.
This project was co-financed by the World Bank and German cooperation through KfW. It incorporated both green and grey infrastructure and was implemented through a shared structure that emphasized government leadership and minimized fragmentation. This collaboration led to a formalized co-financing framework agreement between the World Bank and KfW in 2024, which aimed to streamline joint projects with harmonized standards.
Xavier Chavana from the World Bank, along with Ingo Baum and Susana Gomes from KfW, discussed how this partnership functioned effectively under challenging conditions. Chavana noted that pre-existing trust between teams facilitated progress despite complex post-cyclone recovery needs. "We were operating in a very complex environment... But what helped us move forward was the trust and understanding already built between our teams," he said.
Baum highlighted continuity as a key factor: "Our team had worked on the first Beira project... The relationships were already there — with each other, and with the government." Gomes added that flexibility was crucial: "We weren’t locked into rigid roles."
The project required navigating institutional differences without attempting to eliminate them entirely. Baum explained, "Alignment wasn’t about eliminating differences; it was about managing them." Gomes emphasized an outcome-oriented approach: "What mattered was that we agreed upfront on the big picture."
The integration of conventional infrastructure with nature-based solutions allowed for a comprehensive approach to flood risk reduction while also benefiting biodiversity. Chavana remarked on this dual approach: "That dual approach not only reduced flood risk, it also created co-benefits for biodiversity and community use."
Gomes noted that embedding green infrastructure within a broader system required detailed coordination. Baum added that designing such infrastructure necessitated starting with specific local needs.
The co-financing model aimed to reduce fragmentation by coordinating efforts through a single implementation unit within Mozambique's Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources. Chavana stated, "If each partner runs its own process... From the outset, we made a conscious decision to avoid that."
Looking ahead, Baum stressed empowering local teams: "You have to give people room to work." Gomes reflected on the experience: "We weren’t just reacting to a crisis — we were helping lay foundations for long-term resilience." Chavana concluded by emphasizing outcomes over budgets: "Co-financing isn’t just about bigger budgets — it’s about better outcomes."