The power of community action in a changing climate

Mozambique and Zimbabwe—neighboring countries in southern Africa with diverse cultural landscapes—are both highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to an interplay of environmental, social, economics, and structural factors. The economies of both countries rely heavily on agriculture, particularly among rural populations, and the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events, including cyclones, droughts, floods, and rising temperatures, threaten the food security and livelihoods of the country’s inhabitants. MSF’s work in these settings—which prioritises the knowledge, specific needs, and resilience strategies of local populations—demonstrates the value of community-centred and integrated responses to climate-related health challenges in both engendering relevant, adaptive, and lasting interventions and restoring dignity and agency to those most affected by the climate crisis.