Attachments
To assess whether internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to face displacement-related vulnerabilities or have experienced improvements in their living conditions, DTM conducts periodic, comparative progress towards solutions assessments covering IDPs, returnees, and non-displaced populations. In Sofala Province, the first round11 was conducted in 2020, followed by Round 2 in 20232 and the current Round 3, enabling trend analysis across time. Where significant differences emerge between rounds, targeted comparisons are undertaken to identify changes in vulnerabilities and well-being. As of July 2025, Sofala province hosted 17,790 households, comprising 92,650 internally displaced persons (IDPs), distributed across several districts: Buzi (49,478), Chibabava (12,611), Nhamatanda (9,053), Caia (8,039), Dondo (7,877), Gorongosa (3,858), and Marromeu (1,734). Buzi district alone accounts for 53 per cent of this population, spread across 18 active displacement sites. Climate-related factors are a major driver of displacement, particularly in Central and Southern Mozambique, where 79 per cent of IDPs have remained displaced for over five years following the devastating 2019 Cyclone Idai. Since 2023, Sofala has experienced additional shocks, including the 2023/24 El Niño, Cyclone Jude, heavy rains, and flooding, which have further disrupted livelihoods and slowed recovery for both IDPs and host communities. In response to these challenges, The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Mozambique’s National Disaster Management Agency (INGD), conducted a Progress Towards Durable Solutions assessment in Sofala in October 2025, complemented by Focus Group Discussions. This initiative aligns with the Government’s commitment to displacement management through various policies including the National Policy and Strategy for Internal Displacement Management, Resolution 42/2021 8th September, and its Action Plan for 2025 to 2029. The assessment focused on IDPs and non-displaced households in displacement affected areas, drawing lessons from Cyclone Idai (2019) and subsequent natural hazards, including Tropical Storms Chalane and Ana, and Cyclones Gombe and Freddy. The Government of Mozambique and IOM recognize that achieving durable solutions is a long-term and complex process, requiring coordinated efforts from government, partners, communities, and individuals. Solutions are not always linear or permanent, as IDPs often rely on mobility strategies to cope. Through PEGDI Action Plan, the government and partners aim to: (i) strengthen national and local capacities to manage and reduce the risks of internal displacement across the full cycle of prevention and mitigation, preparedness and readiness, response, and sustainable recovery and reconstruction; and (ii) create enabling conditions that support the achievement of durable, voluntary solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), thereby contributing to the sustainable reduction of displacement over time. To ensure these objectives are met, it is critical to understand the progress made by displaced families and identify targeted interventions where needed. Despite persistent challenges, positive developments driven by households, government, and partner interventions have improved conditions in some areas. This analysis and report aim to present robust data and evidence on the progress made by IDPs, returnees, and host communities The Progress Towards Durable Solutions report supports PEGDI Action Plan implementation by monitoring progess of IDPs prioritized by the plan to be supported on their pathway to solutions. The analysis applies an area-based approach, presenting results at posto level to reflect the situation of all population groups living in the same geographic areas. This approach supports area-based programming, humanitarian planning, and progress monitoring toward durable solutions, allowing stakeholders to identify remaining gaps, track improvements across population groups, and design inclusive interventions that respond to the needs of entire communities.