MAPUTO
Mozambique has certified its first group of drone operators to support disaster response efforts, marking a new step in the country’s preparations for cyclones, floods and other humanitarian emergencies.
In a media release issued June 5, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) said 30 professionals completed training under the Drone-Based Disaster Management Solution project, an initiative supported by the bank and financed through the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund.
The project, launched April 3, 2025, aims to improve disaster preparedness and response through drone technology.
Training took place in Maputo and was conducted in partnership with Mozambique’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Transformation, Busan Technopark of South Korea and PNU Drone, a company affiliated with Pusan National University.
Participants received instruction in drone piloting, airspace regulations, data collection, mission planning for disaster management operations and equipment maintenance. The group includes 10 newly qualified drone instructors from various government agencies.
“The Bank will continue to facilitate capacity-building activities as part of its policy dialogue to deliver better services at reduced costs for the people of Mozambique,” AfDB Country Manager Rômulo Corrêa said in a statement.
“By moving from training into active operations, we are ensuring that national institutions have the tools and skills needed to respond more effectively and save lives,” Corrêa said.
The project costs about $967,000 and is part of the bank’s effort to promote technology partnerships between African countries and international innovation centers.
With the training phase complete, drones will be deployed in five government-designated areas considered highly vulnerable to flooding and other disasters. Ten certified operators will participate in the next phase of the program.
The drones will be used for search-and-rescue missions, aerial mapping, surveillance, water-quality monitoring and data collection for early warning systems.
Aderito Celso Félix Aramuge, director-general of Mozambique’s National Institute of Meteorology, said the training marks an important step in strengthening the country’s digital resilience strategy and building a sustainable national drone capability.
PNU Drone Director Changwoo Baek said the program has created a certified, self-sustaining drone workforce, while AfDB Project Manager El Khili Lhoucine said the initiative is designed to ensure Mozambican professionals can operate, maintain and eventually expand the program independently.
