Itai Ndongwe
HARARE- The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a US$10.12 million grant from the African Development Fund to support Zimbabwe in boosting sustainable agricultural production and strengthening rural resilience in drought-prone regions.
This grant aims to enhance food security and improve livelihoods for communities in vulnerable areas, aligning with the Bank Group’s priorities for agricultural development and climate resilience in Africa. The project is expected to directly benefi from 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers and 42,000 smallholder crop farmers in Zimbabwe.
The African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional lending arm, provides support to the continent’s most vulnerable countries, including Zimbabw, through this initiative.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project (AVCLEP) will enhance sustainable crop and livestock production and productivity, improve market access for agricultural products, and strengthen value chain integration for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe.
The project will be implemented in three provinces: Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, targeting areas with high livestock populations that are vulnerable to harsh weather patterns.
Zimbabwe faces recurring macroeconomic instability and the impacts of climate change, including floods, droughts, and tropical storms, which affect the most vulnerable rural population.
“This investment represents a critical intervention to build climate resilience and improve food security in Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable agricultural communities,” said Moono Mupotola, African Development Bank’s Deputy Director General for Southern Africa and Country Manager for Zimbabwe. “By rehabilitating existing infrastructure and introducing climate-smart agricultural practices, the project will transform livelihoods in areas that have historically suffered from drought and limited access to water resources.”
The project’s primary focus is on climate-smart agricultural productivity and value chain enhancement, which includes rehabilitating dip tanks, developing solar-powered boreholes, and supporting crop-livestock value chains to enhance food and nutrition security; building rural communities’ livelihoods and resilience to climate change- to support integrated land use planning, landscape restoration, and catchment management to improve water security.
It also includes capacity building, social inclusion, and knowledge management to enhance technical skills, promote gender equality, and foster youth empowerment, as well as project management to ensure efficient implementation and alignment with the African Development Bank’s rules and procedures.
The project will directly benefit 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers and 42,000 smallholder/crop farmers, with a strong emphasis on the inclusion of women (50%) and youth (20%). Additionally, 90,000 community members will indirectly benefit from improved water supply, veterinary services, and livelihood programs.
The project is expected to create 200 full-time and 2,800 seasonal jobs along the crop and livestock value chains, with average monthly household income projected to increase from $85 to $120.
Implementation is scheduled to commence in June 2025, with completion anticipated by December 2029.
The bank has played a critical role in supporting Zimbabwe’s rural development process by making sustained investments, which have helped reduce food insecurity and poverty.
“This Project will enhance adaptive capacity, promote sustainable economic opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of rural communities to climate change within the target areas,” said Martin Fregene, Director of the African Development Bank’s Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department. “We look forward to working with all key stakeholders during the project implementation to drive impactful solutions in the target areas that have been negatively affected by climate change.”
The AVCLEP project exemplifies the government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity while mitigating the impacts of climate change. By introducing climate-smart practices and rehabilitating critical infrastructure, significant improvements in household incomes and food security are expected.
