Transfer of Affordable Housing Construction Technologies in Mozambique

The Republic of Mozambique is a country periodically affected by extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones, and strong winds. These extreme weather events have caused the partial destruction of thousands of homes, in part due to the lack of sustainable, affordable, and durable housing technologies.

To address this critical issue, the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources of Mozambique, Sakarya University, Düzce University, TÜBİTAK and UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries has collaborated to transfer sustainable and affordable construction technologies to Mozambique.

The project aims to provide access to sustainable, affordable, and resilient housing in the Republic of Mozambique through technical assistance and technology transfer. Vulnerable families affected by repeated devastating natural catastrophes are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Mozambique in terms of housing. Introducing and promoting rammed earth dwellings in the country aims to respond to humanitarian needs of populations affected by disasters.

This project will also contribute to improving the quality of housing, particularly for vulnerable households, diversifying affordable technological options, and adding value with the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable construction technologies. This project directly addresses SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG11, sustainable cities and communities, SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG13 Climate Action.

The expected strategic outcomes of the project include:

• To facilitate the construction of sustainable and natural hazards-resistant dwellings by use of locally available stabilized earthen construction materials
• To decrease the direct economic losses caused by disasters, with a focus on protecting the vulnerable people
• To increase scientific and technological capacities of the relevant Government bodies of the Republic of Mozambique by way of technology and know-how transfer on building rammed earth dwellings
• To enhance the capacity of local community with know-how and labour-skill capacity on building rammed earth dwellings 
• To raise awareness on benefits of rammed earth for sustainable housing: ecological, cost effectiveness, comfort, sustainability, durability, and resistance features of the rammed earth technology
• To promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to the project scope.