Zimbabwe Integrates Disaster Risk Management into National Policies and Budget

Strategic Insights -

Zimbabwe has made significant strides in incorporating disaster risk management and climate action into its national policies and budget, with the aim of enhancing resilience and adaptation in line with its Vision 2030. The country has shifted from reactive disaster response to proactive, integrated risk reduction and adaptation strategies, with a focus on devolution, public-private collaboration, and mainstreaming disaster risk management in sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

  • Zimbabwe has allocated one percent of its local authorities' annual budgets to disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, including the development of responsive master and local plans.
  • The country has adopted a three-pronged approach to deal with El Nino-induced drought, which includes Search and Rescue, Mitigation and Resilience Building.
  • Zimbabwe has established the SADC Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (SHOC) to coordinate regional disaster preparedness, response, and early recovery efforts, including supply chain management.
  • The country has also adopted Anticipatory Action, formalized through a National Framework, enabling pre-emptive measures before disasters occur to mitigate their impacts.
  • Minister Garwe emphasized the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction into broader development frameworks and encouraged African nations to explore financial instruments like insurance and disaster risk transfer mechanisms.
  • The International Recovery Platform (IRP) has been supporting countries in advancing Priority 4 of the Sendai Framework to address challenges in ensuring recovery efforts systematically build resilience.

Statistics:

  • Over 500,000 people were affected by Cyclone Idai in 2019.
  • Zimbabwe has allocated one percent of its local authorities' annual budgets to disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation.
  • The country has adopted a three-pronged approach to deal with El Nino-induced drought, which includes Search and Rescue, Mitigation and Resilience Building.

Sources:

  • [Zimbabwean Cabinet Minister Daniel Garwe's address at the High Policy Dialogue on Resilient Recovery]
  • [International Recovery Platform (IRP) - "High-Level Policy Dialogue on Resilient Recovery"]
  • [Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030]
  • [Africa Agenda 2063 - "Building a Resilient, Sustainable Continent for Future Generations"]