[3][4] Prior to its creation, disaster management in Mozambique was under the purview of the Department for the Prevention and Combat of Natural Disasters (Portuguese: Departamento de Prevenção e Combate as Calamidades Naturais, DPCCN),[2] a subunit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation that mainly served as a "distributing agency for external aid".
[5] In contrast to its predecessor, the INGC was geared more toward coordination of disaster management efforts than delivery of foreign aid.
[13][14] Since June 2008 it is also responsible, through the Reconstruction Coordination Office (GACOR), for the resettlement of persons displaced by natural disasters.
[18] The INGC coordinates disaster management efforts with and receives support from public and private institutions, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations,[19] including Concern Worldwide,[20] the government of Germany,[21] and the United Nations.
[22] Ad Melkert, the Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, which provides assistance to the INGC through its Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery,[23] lauded the institute in March 2008 as "an example of effective management of natural disasters".