Mozambique borders Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini. Its long Indian Ocean coastline (of 2,500 kilometers) faces east to Madagascar. About 70% of its population of 28 million (2016) live and work in rural areas. It is endowed with ample arable land, water, energy, as well as newly discovered natural gas and mineral resources offshore; three, deep seaports; and a relatively large potential pool of labor. It faces many development challenges, including pronounced and widespread poverty, low life expectancy, and wide gaps in educational achievement. Its economy is showing some signs of recovery after a difficult 2016, which saw a sharp slowdown in growth and shocks to both the country’s currency and to inflation. First quarter GDP growth in 2017 picked up to 2.9%, more than double the growth rate of the preceding quarter.

The Government of Mozambique strives to enhance its climate change response framework. The Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA) developed a national climate change strategy in June 2011. According this strategy, its national priority is to increase resilience in communities and the national economy, including the reduction of climate risks. It also aims to promote a low carbon development and the green economy through integration of adaptation and mitigation in sectorial and local planning. It signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 and communicated its climate mitigation and adaptation commitments and priorities through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).