Building Resilience in Zimbabwe's Climate-affected Regions: Success of Anticipatory Action Project

Strategic Insights -

Faced with severe weather fluctuations and climate-related shocks, farmers in Zimbabwe's hardest-hit regions have gained new-found food and livestock security thanks to a successful two-year anticipatory action project. Implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the project focused on building community resilience through early warning systems and proactive planning. For livestock farmer Mr. Trevor Ncube, the support came just in time, enabling him to save his livestock through feed formulation and grow nutritious crops that sustained his family during the 2023/24 drought.

Key Takeaways:

  • The anticipatory action project empowered farmers by linking scientific data with local action, providing early warnings and tailored crop advisories.
  • The project helped farmers like Mr. Trevor Ncube save their livestock through feed formulation and grow climate-appropriate crops, leading to improved productivity and food security.
  • The initiative focused on building community resilience through proactive planning and early warning systems, transforming vulnerability into strength.
  • The project was implemented in collaboration with the Government, with support from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), and is now being integrated into national disaster strategies.
  • Zimbabwe's Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chief director Nathan Nkomo stated that the Government is moving away from managing disasters to managing risk and investing in drones and grassroots structures for faster response.
  • The WFP Programme Policy Officer Munyaradzi Mubaiwa emphasized the importance of building a world where communities are not just survivors but prepared defenders.

Statistics:

  • Over 400 cattle were killed in Beitbridge, a semi-arid district in Zimbabwe, due to a severe drought in 2023.
  • Mr. Trevor Ncube harvested 200 bales of lablab from half a hectare and 15 bags of sorghum from a hectare last season.
  • The anticipatory action project supported farmers in building resilience through early warning systems and proactive planning, with a focus on climate-appropriate crop selection and feed formulation.
  • The initiative was implemented over two years, with funding from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) and support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Sources:

  • "Farmers in Zimbabwe's hardest-hit climate regions celebrate new-found food and livestock security following the successful implementation of an anticipatory action project" by FAO
  • Zimbabwe has experienced severe weather fluctuations, including erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells. (FAO)
  • The ECHO-supported Anticipatory Action (AA) Project empowered farmers by linking scientific data with local action. (FAO)
  • Zimbabwe's Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chief director Nathan Nkomo stated that the Government is moving away from managing disasters to managing risk. (FAO)
  • FAO Assistant Country Representative Ms. Tendai Munyokoveri stated that FAO is the leading agency globally in early warning and anticipatory action. (FAO)
  • The World Food Programme (WFP) Programme Policy Officer Munyaradzi Mubaiwa emphasized the importance of building a world where communities are not just survivors but prepared defenders. (WFP)