institutional capacity of MICOA. Such an approach could well be extended to the environment sector.

NGOs and the civil society are often instrumental in ensuring that environment is on the national policy agenda and are already actively undertaking important adaptation activities (ODI, 2006). For example, the Mozambican Red Cross, supported by the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre, contributes to disaster preparedness at the national and local level. In addition, CARE International is currently in the process of developing an initiative to mainstream climate change adaptation into its development activities in Mozambique. Involving this expertise in planning and implementing of adaptation measures would foster significant long-term prospects of adaptation to climate impacts.

# **6 Conclusions and Policy Implications**

Mainstreaming of climate adaptation into development assistance is still in its early stage in Mozambique. Integrating adaptation measures across all sectors and institutional levels is however important to safeguard existing and future development progress in light of the current high climate variability, the projected increase of extreme weather events and the development progress already being impacted by climate. Poverty and hunger reduction is particularly at risk due to both direct climate impacts of droughts, floods and cyclones as well as indirect impacts arising from climate-related health conditions and gender inequality.

Mozambique receives substantial development assistance in climate-sensitive sectors and regions that are exposed to climate risks. Thus, climate-informed investments are essential to enhance livelihood opportunities and reduce poverty. An analysis of ODA investments showed that major investments are made in climate-sensitive provinces highly exposed to droughts, floods and cyclones, and major recovery costs in the early 2000s demonstrated that current adaptation to climate impacts is insufficient. Apart from a few stand-alone projects in the agricultural and infrastructural sectors, current climate risks have not yet been systematically integrated into the design of ODA projects. This strengthens the need for mainstreaming adaptation to climate impacts.

Three projects analyzed in more detail provide insights into how adaptation can be incorporated in project planning and implementation. Land management, sound information on climate and early warning and forecasting systems play an important role at all levels. Each of the projects however covers only specific aspects of climate vulnerability and is limited to a distinct region, since these initiatives were designed as individual projects. Nevertheless, they are indicative of the type of action that is needed.

Although the legislative environment in Mozambique is conducive to mainstreaming climate adaptation, barriers exist both at the level of individuals, organizations and the enabling environment. The barriers to mainstreaming identified through expert interviews encompass constraints specific to climate adaptation and development progress, including the availability of human resources, data availability and management, organizational structures and networking as well as financial resources. Bilateral and multilateral donors are well positioned to play a catalytic 22