NBSAP Accelerator Partnership | Recent News

November 2025

The Government of Mozambique and IUCN Mozambique convened national actors to discuss a new model for river basin planning that strengthens water security, ecosystem protection and community participation.

Key Summary:

• A national workshop examined a new multi-sectoral approach to river basin planning in Mozambique.
• Discussions highlighted opportunities to align river basin plans with SDG 6 and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
• Stakeholders identified priorities for ecosystem protection, community participation and decentralized planning as part of a 2026 roadmap.

The IUCN Mozambique Country Office convened the National Workshop on River Basin Planning in Maputo on 26–27 November 2025, under the Dutch-funded MozWater Programme. The event, themed “A Nova Abordagem sobre a Planificação de Bacias Hidrográficas em Moçambique,” introduced a shift toward achieving water security through resilient Integrated Water Resource Management (GIRH), moving beyond traditional sectoral planning.

The workshop was opened by Dr. Agostinho Vilanculos of the National Directorate of Water Resource Management (DNGRH). The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Facilitator for Mozambique was invited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries to contribute to this national dialogue.

A central question guided the discussions including “What must we do together in 2026 that no sector can do alone?” Participants emphasized the importance of aligning river basin plans with SDG 6 and national targets that are consistent with the GBF.

Three priority actions were highlighted:

• Protecting ecosystems: Integrating the protection of critical water catchment areas and the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
• Empowering local communities: Strengthening community involvement in basin committees, water monitoring and disaster risk management.
• Decentralized perspective: Ensuring community perspectives inform the work of regional water administrations (ARA Centro and ARA Norte).

The workshop established the principles for a resilient and integrated approach to river basin planning. The next step involves translating these principles, including ecosystem protection, community inclusion and multi-sectoral coordination, into a 2026 roadmap for water security in Mozambique.

Photo credit: Olávio Mazivila, IUCN Mozambique

Photo credit: Olávio Mazivila, IUCN Mozambique

Learn more about Mozambique and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led initiative that supports the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) to collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Co-chaired by Colombia and Germany, it is supported by the governments of Germany, Norway, Canada and France, and implemented by a Global Coordination Unit hosted by UNEP, UNDP, and the Secretariat of the CBD.