Tag Archive for: Poverty in Zimbabwe

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HIV in Zimbabwe

HIV in ZimbabweZimbabwe is a country located in southern Africa. It shares its borders with South Africa to the south, Zambia to the north, Mozambique to the east and Botswana to the west. Harare, the largest city and at the same time the capital, lies in the northeastern part of the land.

Zimbabwe’s population is about 17 million, with the average age of a citizen being 18. The political system is a constitutional democracy and most of its population practices Christianity. Despite its vast size, natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, HIV in Zimbabwe remains a significant public health challenge.

The Prevalence of HIV

HIV in Zimbabwe is becoming an increasingly serious problem. In 2024, about 1.3 million people were living with the virus, most of whom were adults. Notably, women made up a significantly larger share of those affected, with 740,000 cases compared to 490,000 among men.

Despite the progress made in prevention and treatment, economic instability and limited public health funding continue to threaten the country’s response to HIV. The national currency’s devaluation and rising inflation have reduced health care budgets and led to shortages of medicines in some regions.

In early 2025, cuts and freezes in international funding, including a temporary suspension of economic support, took effect. As a result, several HIV clinics closed and the ARV supply was interrupted, leaving thousands without help. Experts and health organizations have warned that such disruptions could reverse years of progress in HIV control and treatment adherence.

Key Populations

In Zimbabwe, key populations, especially female sex workers, bear a substantially higher burden of HIV than the general population. About half of female sex workers have HIV in Zimbabwe. The prevention is difficult because many in the key population don’t even know their HIV status, spreading the illness further.

Women and girls, despite progress in some areas of education, remain underrepresented in formal employment and are more exposed to poverty. Many women rely on the informal sector for income, such as street vending and odd jobs, which often yield irregular earnings, making it difficult to afford health care, clinic transport or consistent treatment. In some cases, the urgency to provide for dependents leads to “survival sex” or informal transactional relationships.

Fighting HIV

Zimbabwe has made significant progress in combating HIV, with strong backing from the Global Fund, PEPFAR, UNDP and local civil society groups. According to recent reports, about 93% of people living with HIV in Zimbabwe know their status, 98% of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 95% of those on ART have achieved viral suppression. However, sustaining these gains remains a challenge.

Despite substantial external support, Zimbabwe faces a funding gap of about $133 million in 2024 to fully meet the resource needs outlined in its strategic HIV plan. Recent freezes and reductions in donor funding, including from USAID, have raised serious concerns about maintaining services, clinics, ART supply and outreach, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups.

With continued, focused commitment from international partners and increased domestic investment, Zimbabwe aims to maintain and strengthen HIV prevention and treatment services. Key elements include expanding local funding sources, ensuring that services for key populations remain prioritized, sustaining supply chains for ART and scaling up testing, prevention and care innovations.

– Julia Skowrońska

Julia is based in Wrocław, Poland and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Transforming Education in Zimbabwe

Education in Zimbabwe“Not all superheroes wear capes; some carry school bags, walk 10km to class and still dream of changing the world,” says Jacqueline Nyakunu, founder of a small rural education nonprofit in Zimbabwe. Financial support through scholarships, government aid programs like the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), NGO initiatives and community-based efforts is vital in improving the education system for vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. These interventions transform their futures and empower communities through increased educational opportunity.

The Challenge of Accessing Education in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s education system experiences some strenuous challenges from systemic underfunding, rural disparities compared to urban areas and holistic inequalities. The government allocated 14% of the national budget to education in 2023, an improvement from 13.4% the previous year. However, it still falls short of the “20% threshold on budgets when it comes to the education sector” recommended by the Dakar Framework.

This constant underfunding has led to poor infrastructure in rural areas, where some schools operate in makeshift garages or abandoned buildings. This leaves students in remote regions, with limited resources and inadequate infrastructure, at a severe disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts. In 2021, an estimated 30,000 students failed to register for national exams due to financial barriers.

High dropout rates compound the problem. UNICEF reports that nearly 50% of children are out of school, specifically in the pre-primary (68%) and adolescent (47%) age groups. Girls face additional hurdles, including period poverty, which affects around 60% of rural girls and contributes to a school attendance rate of 20%, as well as a 21.2% child marriage rate among girls aged 15 to 18 years of age.

Technological inequality further limits learning opportunities, with most rural schools lacking electricity, internet access and digital resources. Most of these schools “do not have the necessary equipment like computers and computer labs needed for ICT studies and virtual learning.” Overall, in the modern world, not having access to the internet or technology while also lacking tangible resources makes it extremely difficult for students to flourish. With 72% of Zimbabwe’s population aged below 18 living in rural areas, these challenges point to a severe education crisis that disproportionately affects the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Government and Institutional Support

Beginning in 2009, Zimbabwe revitalized its BEAM via a partnership between the government and UNICEF to provide tuition, examination fees and rally support to needy students. The initiative targets children in school who are struggling to pay the expenses, dropouts due to financial burdens, those who never enrolled and other socially marginalized groups, such as orphans or children with disabilities. In 2009, BEAM served approximately 527,330 students across 5,055 schools. It achieved approximately 94% of its initial goal of 560,000 beneficiaries, with a gender equity of 50% of beneficiaries for girls.

Despite this early impact, funding challenges quickly developed. In 2011, BEAM received $10 million from donors for primary and special needs schools and $13 million from the government for secondary schools. This fell $7 million short of the $30 million needed to meet the program’s goals. BEAM complements efforts like the Education Transition Fund (ETF). The ETF is designed to supply teaching and learning materials and broader social protection objectives coordinated through district and national Child Protection Committees.

Community-Based Initiatives

The Borgen Project spoke with Nyakunu, a rising senior at Davidson College, who shared her personal journey and the inspiration behind her nonprofit work. She spent her early years in rural Bocha, Zimbabwe, where she and her brother walked close to 15km to reach Chapeyama Primary School, often crossing a river along the way. “Although I enjoyed learning, the long journey and lack of resources made school physically and mentally draining,” she recalled.

Her circumstances changed dramatically when her family moved to an urban area and she transferred to Sakubva Primary School. With access to textbooks, a library and transportation, Nyakunu began to thrive. She eventually graduated top of her class and earned a fully funded place at Davidson College in the U.S.

During the interview, Nyakunu spoke about Start-Up Rural Gen (SURG): the youth-led nonprofit she founded in high school. What began as a capstone project has become an organization that now expands educational access for rural students in Zimbabwe and Kenya.

SURG focuses on addressing both financial and material barriers for Zimbabwe’s education system through four core initiatives:

  • Scholarships: Covering school fees for students whose families are unable to pay.
  • Material Support: Providing essentials like textbooks, stationery, school uniforms and sanitary wear.
  • Mentorship and Career Guidance: Offering workshops and personal mentoring to help students prepare for higher education.
  • Community Engagement and Partnerships: Collaborating with schools, volunteers and donors for sustained impact.

Since 2021, SURG has supported more than 1,000 rural students. Nyakunu highlighted the example of Mt. Matedzi Secondary School, where overcrowded classrooms and limited textbooks make learning difficult. In one case, she described an 11-year-old boy from Mukwada who now receives full support through SURG and consistently ranks at the top of his class. What began with a $600 grant has grown steadily, now receiving funding from sources like Davidson College, AFS Intercultural Programs and even Nyakunu’s income!

Moving Forward

Financial support through government programs like BEAM, scholarships or philanthropic efforts like SURG is more than just assistance; it is a lifeline changing the trajectory of thousands of children in Zimbabwe. These initiatives are closing critical access, resources and opportunity gaps, especially for rural and marginalized communities.

However, continued investments from institutions, local governments, donors and individuals alike are necessary and urgent. This ongoing commitment will ensure education is not a privilege for the few but a fundamental right for every child in Zimbabwe.

– LaRaymee Lee

LaRaymee is based in Missouri City, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench

Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench: Grandmothers, Therapy, and TechnologyIn Zimbabwe, an ongoing revolution is transforming mental health care, driven by an unlikely group: the country’s grandmothers. These women, with little formal training, sit on park benches, offering not just a shoulder to lean on but evidence-based counselling that’s changing lives. Currently, they are using digital tools to extend their reach beyond the benches, bringing support to even the most isolated communities.

Mental Health Landscape in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s road to its current mental health crisis took shape from years of trauma, from colonial history to the long fight for independence. Over time, socio-economic challenges, including hyperinflation, rampant unemployment and a failing health system, have deepened the emotional toll. As of 2021, the country faces one of the highest suicide rates in the world (23.6 per 100,000), alongside widespread depression and post-traumatic stress. With just 18 psychiatrists serving a population of 17 million, mental health care in Zimbabwe has been inaccessible for most and barely recognized. 

The Birth of the Friendship Bench

 The Friendship Bench began with a simple idea. Dr. Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatrist working in Harare, realized that Zimbabwe’s mental health crisis needed something different from more doctors. So, he turned to a deeply rooted tradition in Zimbabwean culture: the matriarchs of the community.

In 2006, psychiatrist Dr. Dixon Chibanda partnered with local health authorities to train a group of elderly women, many of whom had no formal education in mental health, in a simple yet effective form of therapy called Problem-Solving Therapy (PST). These women, affectionately known as the “grandmothers,” were among the few people with the time and willingness to serve as lay health workers, especially given the country’s severe shortage of mental health professionals. By shifting the model to rely on available, community-rooted personnel, something positive began to take shape.

Sitting on brightly painted benches outside local clinics, these grandmothers became trusted figures in their neighborhoods. They offered more than advice, they listened. Through open, empathetic conversations rooted in cultural familiarity, they used behavioral therapy techniques to address kufungisisa—a Shona term that translates loosely to “thinking too much” and often describes depression or deep emotional distress. Their approach was grounded in traditional values like kusimudzira (to uplift), kuvhurika pfungwa (opening up the mind) and kusimbisa (to strengthen). These weren’t just abstract ideas; they were culturally resonant tools for healing. 

Clinical trials showed that after just a few sessions on the bench, 98% of people who had previously considered suicide were no longer suicidal six months later. People who arrived feeling hopeless left with a sense of dignity, strength and direction. 

Taking a Digital Leap

The pandemic could have halted the progress of the Friendship Bench, but instead, it propelled it into a new era. With Zimbabwe’s already impressive mobile phone penetration (90% of the country has access), the grandmothers began reaching out through WhatsApp and voice calls, extending their therapy services to people who could not make it to a physical bench.

The shift kept the spirit of Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench intact. This digital pivot meant that counselling could reach those in remote villages, women unable to leave their homes and even young people navigating mental health challenges in crowded urban centers. Unexpectedly, it also helped improve communication between the grandmothers and their supervisors, strengthening the support system behind the scenes. What started as a grassroots intervention under a tree had quietly evolved into a scalable, hybrid model. 

A Model for Accessible Global Mental Health

As of 2025, more than 2,000 grandmothers in Zimbabwe are delivering therapy to at least 500,000 people across the 11 provinces. But the model has not stopped at the country’s borders. It is currently in more than nine countries, including Kenya, Malawi and even the United States (U.S.), with each country tailoring the approach to its own cultural and social contexts. Yet wherever it goes, the core stays the same: community-led care, empathy, accessibility and the belief that healing can begin with a simple conversation.

Scaling Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench

According to experts, scaling the Friendship Bench model further will depend on strong collaboration between Zimbabwe’s government, local health authorities and international partners. Sustaining the program’s momentum could mean finding smart ways to integrate it into existing public health and technology infrastructures.

The mobile phone industry, for example, offers real potential, not just for reaching clients, but for training grandmothers, supervising their work, collecting data and enabling real-time support through virtual platforms. By continuing to build on what’s already available, the Friendship Bench could go even further, reaching more people, in more places, with the same message: healing doesn’t have to be out of reach. By adapting an age-old tradition of community care to the digital age, Zimbabwe has created a model for mental health that could potentially be replicated globally. 

– Sriya Regulapati

Sriya is based in Vancouver, Canada and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Friendship Bench

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Top 10 Facts About Poverty in Zimbabwe

Poverty in ZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordering Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Despite its high literacy rates and abundant natural resources, Zimbabwe continues to grapple with chronic poverty, hyperinflation, unemployment and food insecurity.

The 2024 El Niño-induced drought further pushed the country into a dire humanitarian crisis. However, a favorable 2025 harvest has offered some respite, improving livelihoods and food security for millions. Despite these recent positive developments, underlying issues remain, underscoring the need for sustained support and long-term solutions.

Facts About Poverty in Zimbabwe

  1. Extreme Poverty. As of April 2025, approximately 60% of Zimbabwe’s population lived on less than $3.65 a day, placing the country among the most impoverished in Southern Africa.
  2. Food Insecurity. Poverty in Zimbabwe is closely intertwined with food instability, as most households depend on agriculture. Zimbabwe’s fragile economy, marked by hyperinflation and reduced purchasing power, coupled with the El Niño drought, left more than seven million people facing food shortages during the 2024-2025 lean season. Despite improved harvests in mid-2025, food security remains fragile, underscoring the vulnerability of Zimbabwe to economic and climate shocks.
  3. Food Price Inflation. Persistent currency instability has made necessities unaffordable for many households. By July 2025, the year-on-year rate soared to a staggering 120.70%.
  4. Severe Child Malnutrition. About 24% of children aged less than 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, with merely 10% of babies aged 6 to 23 months receiving an adequate minimum diet. Rising waste rates in both rural and urban areas highlight the widespread nature of Zimbabwe’s poverty.
  5. Rural Poverty. Rural communities, containing about 67% of Zimbabwe’s population, are the most vulnerable to drought and food insecurity, as their livelihoods depend mainly on rain-fed agriculture. However, economic shocks in recent years have started to narrow the rural-urban gap, with poverty also affecting urban areas.
  6. Water Scarcity and Disease. More than four million people lack access to safe water, a critical situation exacerbated by the El Niño drought. Dependence on unsafe sources has led to outbreaks of waterborne diseases, including cholera. Children aged 5 and below are the most vulnerable.
  7. A Fragile Health Care System. Zimbabwe’s public health care system faces critical challenges. About 87% of Zimbabweans lack medical aid coverage. The sector struggles with shortages of medicines, medical personnel, high costs and a significant “brain drain” of health professionals.
  8. Limited Social Safety Nets. While the government provides some grain and cash transfers, social protection coverage remains low. This leaves the most vulnerable citizens dependent on humanitarian aid from NGOs and international organizations. The halt in U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS programs, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has disrupted the provision of life-saving antiretroviral medication to more than a million Zimbabweans dependent on it. This disruption has raised fears of a potential resurgence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the future.
  9. Unsustainable Public Debt. Zimbabwe’s public debt reached $21.2 billion in 2023, representing 96,6% of its gross domestic product (GDP). This high debt burden limits the country’s access to international financing, further hampering economic recovery.
  10. Women’s Increased Vulnerability. Women bear the hardest consequences of poverty and climate shocks. Many work in the informal sector, lack social protection and live in precarious conditions. The drought has exacerbated their vulnerability, leading to a surge in child and school dropouts among girls. Dependence on their husbands for subsistence increases the risk of women becoming victims of gender-based violence.

Organizations Providing Aid

Despite these challenges, organizations like Action Against Hunger (ACF) and the World Food Program (WFP) are stepping up their efforts to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable Zimbabweans.

ACF provides cash transfers to farmers and households with malnourished children, while ensuring these children receive the necessary medical referrals. Its actions benefited a total of 8,000 people. The organization has also prioritized access to clean water, constructing and refurbishing boreholes and mini water systems that now serve water to more than 19,000 individuals.

Meanwhile, WFP strengthens rural farming communities by training farmers on climate-smart farming techniques, encouraging traditional small grain cultivation, diverse horticulture and animal farming. WFP also introduces agricultural risk insurance, alongside savings and credit products.

Final Remarks

While the successful 2025 harvest has provided a temporary relief, it highlights Zimbabwe’s acute vulnerability to climate shocks. Continued funding and collaboration between the government and international partners are critical for building long-term resilience, ensuring sustainable development and preparing for future crises linked to climate instability.

– Juliette Delbarre

Juliette is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Dismantling Gender Wage Gap in Zimbabwe

Gender Wage Gap in ZimbabweThe gender wage gap in Zimbabwe has had a detrimental impact on women, limiting their economic independence, reinforcing social inequalities and hindering national progress. Although women make up 59.7% of the labor force population, they continue to earn significantly less than their counterparts. This persistent imbalance perpetuates an unstable patriarchal society and denies women full participation in economic growth.

Understanding the Gender Wage Gap

The gender wage gap refers to “the difference between median earnings of men and women relative to median earnings of men.” In Zimbabwe, factors such as unequal access to education influence this difference, with more than 8,000 girls dropping out more than boys. and limited job opportunities. For example, many women work in low-income domestic jobs and earn “less than $5.50 a day.” Even within the same industries as men, women tend to less pay for performing similar work. These statistics are only a partial reflection of what women go through on a day-to-day basis, making it imperative to address the root causes of this inequality.

Root Causes of the Gender Gap in Zimbabwe

  1. Cultural and Social Norms: Patriarchal attitudes significantly dominate many communities in Zimbabwe. Traditional gender roles often prioritize men as breadwinners, while women are expected to take on unpaid caregiving roles. For example, women carry an estimated 79% of the burden of water fetching responsibilities. These norms reduce women’s career prospects and hinder their advancement in the workplace.
  2. Education and Skills Gaps: While gender parity in basic education has improved, disparities persist at secondary and higher levels of education. More girls than boys drop out before completing secondary education, largely due to financial pressure and gendered expectations. Moreover, women are underrepresented. Furthermore, they face difficulties in accessing high-paying, male-dominated (71.21%) careers such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. This is due to limited access to resources and the prevailing belief that women do not belong in the field.
  3. Discriminatory Work Practices: Lack of enforcement of equal pay laws and limited transparency around wages in Zimbabwe contribute to the gender wage gap and discrimination. Women are less likely to be promoted to leadership roles, even when they have the necessary qualifications and experience. Although Section 65 of the 2013 Constitution guarantees equal pay for equal work, enforcement remains weak. Without accountability, the gender wage gap in Zimbabwe continues to widen.
  4. Informal Employment: About 65% of Zimbabwean women work in the informal sector, where wages are often low, unpredictable and unregulated. These jobs usually do not provide social protections such as maternity leave, pensions and health care benefits. For example, only 12.7% of women receive their maternity benefits. Informal employment significantly contributes to the gender wage gap in Zimbabwe. It traps women in low-paying, insecure jobs with no progression.

Steps Towards Closing the Gender Gap in Zimbabwe

  1. Policy Reforms and Enforcement: Zimbabwe introduced the National Gender Payin 2013 and revised it in 2017. Section 65 of the Constitution states “equality in employment and equality of remuneration for similar work among men and women.” This policy aims to eliminate the gender disparities in economic opportunities, including pay, promotion and leadership opportunities. However, implementation remains inconsistent, and more work is necessary to ensure it applies to all. In the education sector, the revitalization of Zimbabwe’s education sector has led to the launch of programs to support female leadership and mentoring in STEM departments, helping more women pursue and succeed in technical careers.
  2. Empowering Women in Leadership: The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), established in 2014, actively encourages women’s participation in politics, business and decision-making roles. The commission works to challenge stereotypes, promote women’s rights, empower women economically, raise public awareness and investigate gender-based discrimination. In its 2023 annual report, the ZGC highlighted a key achievement: it conducted targeted training workshops to equip women candidates with the skills and knowledge needed for effective political participation. As a result, 37 women were successfully elected to various political offices.
  3. Promoting Education for Girls: The Girls’ Education Accelerator, launched in collaboration with UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education, helps girls in Zimbabwe overcome barriers like early marriage and financial hardship. It provides school supplies, menstrual hygiene products and scholarships. Since its implementation, thousands of girls have returned to school and progressed to higher levels of education. These investments equip girls for careers that challenge the traditional income divide.
  4. Support for Informal Workers: The launch of initiatives to provide protections, such as the Women’s Microfinance Bank in 2018, enables women to expand their businesses, move into formal employment and secure financial independence. The Bank provides low-interest loans to women in financial difficulties to empower them economically and socially. By 2021, more than 40,000 women had accessed financial services through the bank.
  5. Public Awareness Campaigns: Organizations like UN Women Zimbabwe and local NGOS run awareness campaigns to shift public attitudes on gender roles, such as releasing a booklet of Impact Stories to encourage support and collaboration. Campaigns focus on challenging stereotypes, promoting shared household responsibilities, creating inclusive economic growth and encouraging men to become allies in gender equality. These efforts aim to reshape cultural norms that sustain the gender wage gap in Zimbabwe.

Looking Ahead

The gender wage gap in Zimbabwe requires further addressing to eliminate it from all aspects of society. Ongoing initiatives and programs have provided hope and empowerment for women that the systemic barriers can be broken down. Empowering women benefits not only them but the nation as well, providing greater stability, prosperity and justice for all Zimbabweans.

– Blessing Nkama

Blessing is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Sunny Days: Renewable Energy in Zimbabwe

Renewable Energy in ZimbabweAggressively changing weather patterns intensified the El Niño season in 2024, bringing a period of drought to the country of Zimbabwe. Already one of the countries susceptible to agricultural hardships, Zimbabwe is especially affected, making food security a top concern among the country’s leaders. The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka, urged immediate action and intervention in an attempt to prevent further hunger due to crop loss, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Looking at current initiatives for the future, it is evident that renewable energy in Zimbabwe is a preferred method for addressing the dilemma of agricultural struggles.

How Renewable Energy in Zimbabwe Can Address Hunger

The fight against the looming hunger and poverty crisis begins with the calculated cultivation and preservation of integral crops. FAO reports the most recent drought has shown a 77% reduction in cereal crops; 26% in soybeans, 74% in cotton and 89% in sunflowers. Stover, a primary source of livestock diet, is also suffering a sharp dip in growth thanks to the dry El Niño season. To combat the challenges that the drought brought on, Zimbabwe is focusing on a renewable energy-reliant future, which offers a hopeful solution for long-term success.

The plans took shape in March 2024 when the United Nations announced a partnership with the Zimbabwean government, focusing resources on renewable energy solutions and establishing the Renewable Energy Fund. Mr. Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator associated with the program, observed that putting resources into renewable energy in Zimbabwe would not only protect the environment, but it would also create jobs and instigate economic development. With an initial investment of $45 million USD, the country set the precedent that it is serious about being proactive in improving its economic and environmental future. As the partnership moves forward, one area of focus seems to stand above the rest: solar power.

Solar Power Initiatives in Zimbabwe

According to the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), Zimbabwe receives plenty of solar irradiation each day and 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Solar grids running off of this energy accumulation will allow for refrigeration, lighting, device charging and more. This will not only allow the extended storage of cultivated crops, but it will also provide opportunities for ongoing education, which then compounds the improvement of the agricultural system. Improvements have already occurred in many areas across the country. 

Ongoing efforts in the town of Gwanda exemplify solar power as a tangible solution in the dilemma of crop loss. Prior to current initiatives, defunct irrigation systems were not being maintained, leaving them inoperable. To make matters worse, the farmers were not educated in the storage and distribution of water for crop management. Practical Action, an international development organization working in Zimbabwe since 2011, found success through an active project that involves installing solar-powered water pumps. This new tool has allowed farmers to cultivate more land, effectively stabilizing the food supply.

With extra cultivation capabilities, the farmers are able to produce enough crops to feed themselves as well as selling the excess. Along with training farmers in water conservation techniques, Practical Action also provides education on maintenance processes, allowing them to keep the solar-powered water pumps working well into the future. An added bonus is that a solar-powered mini-grid, that can also provide electricity for schools, hospitals and businesses as the community develops, energizes these water pumps.

Looking Ahead

Though the future seems straightforward, there are still obstacles to overcome. According to the AECF, projects similar to these tend to lack the project financing needed to get the ball rolling. When they do make it past this first hurdle, their steam tends to dissipate due to improperly focused investments paired with minimal skills in maintenance.

However, with Zimbabwe’s newly refocused emphasis on energy stability and allocated funds dedicated to long-term success, the country has the opportunity to truly shine in its agricultural and economic progress. With broad opportunities for renewable energy in Zimbabwe including solar, wind and biomass power, this developing country has ample resources and the definitive tools that will allow it to overcome its agricultural obstacles and enter a brighter future. 

– Jacob Christopher

Jacob is based in Granite Falls, NC, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Initiatives Supporting Mental Health in Zimbabwe

Mental Health in ZimbabweAs of 2024, Zimbabwe’s population stands at approximately 16 million, highlighting an urgent need to support mental health initiatives as more people require access to care. Currently, 54% of Zimbabweans lack access to health care and the suicide rate is 14 per 100,000 people. With less than 20 psychiatrists available for the citizens of Zimbabwe, the mental health care gap is stark.

However, with support from developed countries and effective government programs, Zimbabwe is making significant strides in addressing its mental health challenges. Key initiatives include the World Health Organization’s Special Initiative for Mental Health and the Zimbabwe Life Project. These efforts aim to improve mental health systems, foster successful global partnerships and offer individuals and nations the chance to contribute.

The WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health

In 2020, more than 100 stakeholders, including nonprofits and politicians, backed the strategy outlined by WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health. These programs provide training to equip mental health professionals and caregivers with the skills needed to offer effective mental health support. Between 2021 and 2022, the WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health increased investments in mental health.

Furthermore, it expanded the capacity of general health staff in primary health care centers to identify and assist Zimbabweans experiencing mental disorders. The initiative emphasizes the importance of human rights for those struggling with mental health, including access to information and the right to privacy. This approach fosters a more inclusive and supportive environment.

The Zimbabwe Life Project

The Zimbabwe Life Project (ZLP), established in 2018, is a nonprofit organization that promotes mental health, well-being and resilience in Zimbabwe. The organization seeks to develop a skills exchange program involving mental health professionals in Zimbabwe. This initiative will facilitate participatory exchanges of knowledge, skills and experiences.

A primary objective is to share specialized mental health expertise and foster positive partnerships between mental health professionals in the U.K. and Zimbabwe. Furthermore, ZLP initiatives focus on continuous, comprehensive mental health care in Zimbabwe. In 2019, the organization donated medical equipment worth more than $20,000 to the nation.

Conclusion

Supporting mental health initiatives in Zimbabwe is crucial as the country faces significant challenges in meeting the mental health needs of its population. A combination of limited resources and a shortage of trained professionals has made access to care difficult for many. However, focused efforts are underway to improve mental health systems, foster global collaboration and provide essential knowledge and resources to those in need.

International organizations like the WHO have supported Zimbabwe’s mental health sector. Indeed, programs like the WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health and the ZLP have made strides in increasing awareness, training health care providers and integrating mental health care with primary health services. These initiatives aim to treat mental illness and promote long-term resilience and well-being across communities.

– Alysha Miller

Alysha is based in Toronto, ON, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Chomuzangari Cooperative: Food Security in Masvingo

The Chomuzangari Cooperative: Food Security in MasvingoIn many rural, impoverished parts of Zimbabwe, women are the primary producers of staple food within households. However, many face discrimination that detracts from their access to resources and decision-making capabilities. The Chomuzangari Cooperative bolsters female participation, empowerment and mental health in these areas. Furthermore, the Cooperative directly enhances food security, water access and education. Individuals who have directly experienced the challenges of rural life in Zimbabwe drive the success of the Cooperative. The Welsh Government, through Hub Cymru Africa, largely funds and supports this initiative.

Women in Masvingo

In the Chivi District of Masvingo Province, where women form the majority of the population at 787,098, they traditionally play a diminished role in community decision-making. The Chomuzangari Cooperative aims to empower these women by boosting their confidence and self-esteem, ensuring their voices are heard and their participation increases. The theory is simple: with more resources and confidence, women can enhance food production in the area. A significant method for bolstering self-esteem is through education. To make education more accessible to everyone in the community, the Cooperative has introduced e-learning resources, including Raspberry Pi technology.

Mental Health

In addition to enhancing learning, water access, sanitation and hygiene, the Cooperative also focuses on destigmatizing mental health in Zimbabwe. Typically, mental health services are concentrated in hospitals in major urban centers, leaving rural areas poorly served. Rural mental health care suffers from stigma, resource constraints and staff shortages. Moreover, care for the mentally ill often falls on women, which can be traumatic and detrimental to their mental health. By boosting female self-esteem, the Cooperative hopes to not only support women through these challenges but also empower them to advocate for improvements in the mental health system.

3 Success Stories of Women in Masvingo

  1. Nutritious Veg Gardens. By encouraging women in Masvingo to gather and share nutrient-rich recipes and foods, the community saw a significant boost in local nutrition. Women in the area started a one-hectare nutrition garden where they planted nutritious crops such as rodade tomatoes, Texas Grano onions, cabbage, kale and much more. This initiative dramatically improved the quality of life for women and enhanced food security in the region, as it eliminated the need for women to travel 90 kilometers to Chivi Growth Point or 140 kilometers to Masvingo town to buy fresh vegetables.
  2. Access to Clean Water. Following a collaborative initiative with Hope Foundation, funded by the Welsh Government, thousands of Chomuzangari residents now have access to clean drinking water. The program financed the installation of a borehole, a solar pump and a 5,000-liter storage tank. Local volunteers contributed by making bricks and installing parts of the system. This development ended the previous burden of walking 3-8 kilometers to collect water. Now, nearly all women in the district live within 500 meters of a water point. This significantly reduces food insecurity and prevents children from missing school to fetch water.
  3. Protection of Crops. Due to a new fence constructed with the help of 67 volunteers, 600 women can now grow more food for their families. This fence, which encloses a hectare of garden space for growing vegetables, was funded by a grant from the Welsh Government. The initiative recognizes that protecting crops from animals is essential for fostering food security in the region.

Looking Ahead

The Chomuzangari Cooperative has significantly enhanced the perception of women and the quality of life in entire communities throughout the Masvingo region. Before the project began, the changing climate, discrimination and limited resources severely hindered women’s ability to provide food for their families. Although these challenges persist, the Cooperative’s ongoing efforts and funding have greatly mitigated their impact.

– Bea Newington-Bridges

Bea is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The United States Announces $39 Million in Aid for Zimbabwe

Aid for ZimbabweIn July of 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced more than $39 million of assistance for Zimbabwe in the face of extreme food insecurity. The landlocked African country has encountered increasing rates of food insecurity following poor weather and droughts. These weather patterns have increased food insecurity in Zimbabwe and impacted the nation’s economy and agricultural infrastructure. Foreign assistance from organizations such as USAID can often make all the difference in the developing world. Here is what you need to know about U.S. foreign aid for Zimbabwe.

Weather Patterns Exacerbate Suffering in Zimbabwe

The Global Hunger Index has identified severe food insecurity in Zimbabwe that has only worsened with persistent droughts. Considering the existing food insecurity in the country, the El Niño weather patterns and the subsequent droughts plaguing sub-Saharan countries have worsened an already severe situation of food insecurity in Zimbabwe. Throughout the 2024 October-May agricultural season, around 80% of Zimbabwe received reduced rainfall, which resulted in the loss of almost 70% of crops across the country. Consequently, the Government of Zimbabwe has predicted that around 6 million citizens will require food assistance in the coming months.

Additionally, hits to the agricultural sector have numerous implications for Zimbabweans’ economy and general livelihoods. Thus, changes in weather patterns imply more than just elevated rates of food insecurity; they can also have resounding impacts across multiple sectors of the country’s infrastructure. The International Trade Administration (ITA), a subsection of the United States Department of Commerce, addresses the importance of the agricultural sector for Zimbabwe’s economy by stating that “Zimbabwe’s economic growth potential largely depends on developments in its agricultural sector.” The farming industry in the country is responsible for millions of jobs, 30% of export earnings, 15% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the livelihoods of more than 60% of the population of Zimbabwe heavily rely on the success 

USAID’s Plan for Improvement

USAID recognizes agriculture’s critical role in the economy of Zimbabwe and has prioritized foreign aid to the nation for many years. Most recently, USAID announced $39 million in aid to help Zimbabwe address the impacts of weather change on its agriculture, bringing the total foreign assistance for the 2024 fiscal year to $62 million. In 2019 and 2020, USAID provided $86.9 million to combat food insecurity caused by droughts during the 2019-2020 agricultural season.

With the recently announced $39 million in aid from USAID, humanitarian partners will have the funding to support more than 500,000 severely food-insecure people during the 2024/2025 lean season. USAID partners provide food assistance in response to drought impacts, distribute supplies and livestock and improve water quality and sanitation for both consumption and agriculture, making a significant difference for thousands of Zimbabweans facing extreme food insecurity.

Final Note

Zimbabwe has frequently faced severe food insecurity due to its heavy reliance on agriculture for sustenance and economic stability. Weather changes have significantly disrupted everyday life in recent years, prompting USAID to provide critical funding to support the country’s humanitarian partners. In 2018 and 2019, droughts caused substantial crop losses during the agricultural season, leading to similar nationwide consequences as those seen in the 2023-2024 season. These recurring weather patterns have exacerbated Zimbabwe’s vulnerability to food insecurity, underscoring the ongoing need for support from USAID and other foreign aid initiatives.

– Juliana Granville

Juliana is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Empowered Young Women In Zimbabwe are Changing Their Futures

Empowered Young Women In ZimbabweThe Youth Edutainment Services (YES) Trust Zimbabwe is an NGO formed by a group of young people in a town named Plumtree in Zimbabwe. The group was established in 2008 to empower the nation’s youth using information. The organization was officially registered in 2013 and is changing the lives of empowered young women in Zimbabwe.

Empowering Women

Zimbabwe and many other developing nations struggle with gender equality on many fronts. Women’s involvement in politics is comparatively low, at just 35%, with an even lower statistic in local government at 16%. U.N. Women’s study shows that the reasons for the lack of participation in such roles include dangerous working conditions, unfair wages, sexual violence and lack of employment.

These issues need addressing if women are to improve their prospects. This is a mission that YES Trust has taken up, demonstrating how empowered young women in Zimbabwe can allow them to change their futures with the vision of a society of equality.

The YES Trust aims to provide youths in the country with information, giving them the education they need to freely determine their futures. Its objectives are to mobilize multimedia and edutainment strategies to give people an understanding of social protection, health, safe migration and gender-based violence. By recognizing the talents and potentials of young people, the YES Trust helps them to engage in their community and provides them with the faculties necessary to utilize their strengths in a productive way for themselves and their country.

The task is not an easy one; creating equal opportunities for all citizens, especially for women and girls, will take time. However, YES Trust believes it can make meaningful changes by 2026, according to its 2021 Brief Overview. The board of trustees and secretariat administrators govern the organization aiming to maximize its productivity and reach its goal.

Creating a Space for Young People

To reach its goal, YES Trust hosts several activities, including storytelling competitions, sporting tournaments, music competitions and school quizzes, according to the 2021 Brief Overview. These all aim to create a space for young people to enter into a larger dialogue concerning crucial issues, especially surrounding gender equality. By emphasizing the importance of access to information and the education of young people, there comes increased accountability and inclusivity that could help improve the poor statistics of women in leading roles. Empowered young women in Zimbabwe are taking action, actively seeking the transformation they wish to happen.

The Youth Edutainment Services Trust partners with several like-minded organizations that share the same goals. One of these partners is U.N. Women, whose ambitions align with those of the YES Trust, according to the 2021 Brief Overview. Together, they strive to end violence against women and girls while endeavoring to inspire women’s political participation in leadership roles.

Alongside this, the HER Voice Fund also works with YES Trust and shares similar aspirations of empowerment, with a focus on advocacy. By positioning themselves with such homogenous organizations, they further define and strengthen their mission statement, pointing towards a larger-scale movement that seeks the same end as YES Trust.

YES Trust, coupled with the organizations that have also identified the same problems, reflects how empowered young women in Zimbabwe are taking a practical approach rather than suffering as a result of deeply ingrained inequality

– Molly Ralph

Molly is based in Dorset, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr