CNH Industrial and FPT Industrial Team Up with WeWorld Onlus in Mozambique to Boost Resilience Against Climate Change and Support the Community

CNH Industrial and FPT Industrial, the global powertrain brand of Iveco Group, have joined WeWorld Onlus in their common effort to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The focus of the partnership will be Mozambique, a country frequently subject to extreme weather events, such as floods and cyclones that can have devastating consequences in terms of human life loss, economic decline and environmental damage. This project run by WeWorld, CNH Industrial and FPT Industrial will focus on the district of Sussundenga and the administrative area of Dombe, in the province of Manica in the West of the country, which is often hit by major cyclones.

The partnership will build resilient communities and schools, as well as improve risk management in this vulnerable area frequently exposed to the hydro-meteorological effects of climate change.

This project will first create six School Disaster Risk Management Committees (SDRM) in Manica’s public schools that will involve teachers as well as volunteers. The Committees will receive tools and training that will enable them to be more resilient in the face of natural disasters. Each committee will be trained according to the Basic School Emergency Plan, an innovative tool created by UN Habitat and UNICEF to face and manage risks and catastrophes following Vulnerability Analysis and Climate Capabilities methodology. The committees will also be equipped with an Early Warning System (EWS) kit which will contain the necessary equipment to receive alerts and reports to be communicated to members of the school community during an emergency.

In addition, the initiative foresees the refurbishment of 19 classrooms in the Mossurize district in Ngungunhana. The structural works will improve building conditions to reduce the vulnerability of the infrastructure, thereby helping protect pupils and teachers as well as guaranteeing structural resilience and the capacity to continue to operate after emergencies and disasters. This will also ensure safer and more inclusive learning spaces for students and teachers, including people with disabilities, providing efficient and effective educational services, also during critical periods following a natural disaster.

“Mitigating the risks and the effects of climate change, such as supporting training for young people, are some of the global challenges being tackled by CNH Industrial,” said Daniela Ropolo, Head of Sustainable Development Initiatives at CNH Industrial. “Climate change has a severe impact on people’s quality of life, especially in certain areas of the globe. We are proud to have established the partnership with WeWorld sharing knowledge and values for the development of this project. It represents a tangible way to confirm our commitment to young people and generations to come.”

Finally, FPT Industrial will donate a N45 SM 1A 59-65 kW genset to the Civil Protection (INGD) headquarters in Maputo, which will be managed by the local dealer. The generator will guarantee electrical continuity following severe natural disasters affecting the powerlines and electrical services, while also ensuring the continuation of emergency-related operations by Civil Protection operators and other emergency workers.

Intended to power hospitals, health centers or schools, in case of emergency, the genset will greatly increase local people’s resilience against the effects of climate change and will allow FPT Industrial to take part in a practical direct project involving community support, environmental care, first-aid training and the promotion of sustainability across the board.

“We are strongly committed to fighting climate change at both global and local level,” comments Egle Panzella, Sustainability Manager at FPT Industrial. “Because we know that even seemingly small gestures of solidarity can have a significant positive impact on local communities. Delivering our power generator will offer an opportunity to provide essential equipment, while joining a focused training program for local people set up to improve their readiness and resilience in emergency situations.”

Based in Milan (Italy) and operating in 25 countries, WeWorld has worked for over 50 years to guarantee the rights and equal opportunities of women, girls and boys through access to resources, health, education and work. WeWorld has operated in Mozambique since 2000.

Piero Meda, Country Representative Mozambique at WeWorld stated: “CNH Industrial’s and FPT Industrial's support is crucial for us to ensure continuity in the development of inclusive and resilient education in Mozambique and to assist not only the students but also their families and local communities in risk management and emergency support. As a result of the recent tropical depression ‘Ana’ several schools we work with in Cabo Delgado and Manica provinces were damaged, flooded and one was destroyed. An immediate response is possible thanks also to the support of FPT Industrial and CNH Industrial, which has earmarked part of its donation for the health and safety of the school infrastructure. The next activity will be to train school disaster risk management committees who will be ready to respond to emergencies and especially to prevent disasters.”

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