Maputo, 13th October 2023 – On this auspicious occasion of celebrating the International Day for Disaster Reduction, DiMSUR is delighted to introduce its newest endeavor – the XIPEFO initiative. XIPEFO, derived from the Tsonga language, a Bantu tongue, embodies the profound concept of “illumination of lives.” It harkens back to a time when an ancestral lamp extended the presence of light into the African night, allowing communities to continue their activities long after the sun had set. XIPEFO distinguishes those who had access to this source of light, enabling them to persist in their endeavors, from those for whom daylight marked the boundaries of their activities. For the latter, the end of the day left them eagerly awaiting the dawn. 

Today, XIPEFO serves as a digital lighthouse, a beacon of knowledge for urban resilience, storing and disseminating vital information. It’s a repository open to all, both individuals and organizations, who are committed to advancing the cause of urban resilience in Africa.

To inaugurate this transformative journey, DiMSUR is proud to launch two strategic projects under XIPEFO, brimming with valuable insights for the African continent. The first is a partnership between DiMSUR and the World Food Program (WFP), titled “Fostering Urban Resilience through Preparedness Activities in Southern Africa.” The second is the project “Building Urban Climate Resilience in South-Eastern Africa”, funded by the Adaptation Fund, and spanning four countries – Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and the Union of Comoros. Both projects share the singular goal of enhancing our understanding of the vulnerabilities faced by African cities, and provide indispensable information to propel the pursuit of urban resilience. 

XIPEFO provides comprehensive overviews of both projects, including introductory videos and extensive documents with insights. By bringing together these diverse projects under one platform, DiMSUR emphasizes its role as a facilitator – uniting countries and partners across southern and eastern Africa to illuminate solutions that strengthen the region’s resilience.