Government of Zimbabwe partners UNICEF and China in two-year drought resilience programme

THE Government of Zimbabwe, the People’s Republic of China and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched a two-year drought resilience programme targeting more than 212,000 people in eight of the country’s hardest-hit districts.

Beijing says the initiative underscores its long-term commitment to helping Zimbabwe withstand climate-induced disasters.

The programme, funded by the Chinese government and implemented by UNICEF, will invest in integrated nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, birth registration and social behaviour change interventions aimed at cushioning vulnerable communities from the lingering effects of the devastating El Niño-induced drought while preparing them for future climate shocks.

The launch comes after Zimbabwe experienced its worst El Niño-induced drought in more than four decades, which left millions facing food insecurity, reduced access to clean water and worsening malnutrition.

Speaking at the launch in Goromonzi Friday, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding said the programme represented another milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two countries.

“Through our partnership with UNICEF Zimbabwe, we aim to further support Zimbabwe’s national efforts to mitigate drought shocks and advance the well-being of vulnerable populations.”

He said once fully implemented, the programme would directly support more than 200,000 people through interventions covering nutrition, WASH and child protection.

“It will tackle both immediate and long-term drought impacts, ultimately building healthier, safer and more resilient local communities,” said Zhou.

The ambassador said the latest initiative followed several emergency interventions undertaken by China after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought a national disaster in 2024.

He said China had delivered three consignments of emergency food aid comprising 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat and rice while its 300 Boreholes Project had provided clean drinking water to more than 75,000 people across 300 villages.

He added that China remained committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s development agenda.

UNICEF Zimbabwe representative Etona Ekole said the programme was being rolled out at a critical time as climate forecasts pointed to another possible El Niño phenomenon.

“The timing of China’s contribution is therefore particularly significant,” she said.

“It allows us to act during the critical period between climate shocks: responding to needs that remain, rebuilding essential services and putting protective measures in place before conditions deteriorate again.”

Ekole said over the programme’s 24-month lifespan, more than 212,000 people would benefit directly.

“This includes children who will be screened and treated for malnutrition, mothers and caregivers who will receive essential support, communities that will gain more reliable access to safe water, children who will be better protected and able to obtain civil registration documentation, and families that will be better equipped to withstand, recover from and adapt to climate shocks,” she said.

She urged stakeholders to focus on delivery rather than promises.

Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Sleiman Timios Kwidini said the programme recognised that climate change had become a major public health challenge.

“When water sources dry up, communities face greater risks of diarrhoeal diseases and cholera, placing further strain on our health system,” he said.

“These experiences remind us that climate resilience and health system resilience must go hand in hand.”

Kwidini said the initiative reflected the government’s integrated approach to disaster preparedness and response.

“The health of our people depends on much more than hospitals and medicines. It depends on safe water, adequate nutrition, food security, sanitation, social protection and resilient communities.”

Under the programme, more than 150,000 children will be screened for malnutrition while 400 community care groups will be trained to promote improved nutrition, hygiene and child protection practices.

The project will also rehabilitate and upgrade water points, strengthen community water and sanitation systems and digitise Civil Registry sub-offices in the eight targeted districts to improve birth registration and access to essential services.

Zimbabwe declared a national state of disaster in April 2024 after one of the worst El Niño-induced droughts in more than 40 years devastated crops, dried up water sources and left an estimated 7.6 million people facing food insecurity. The prolonged dry spell increased malnutrition, disrupted essential health services and heightened the risk of water-borne diseases, prompting humanitarian support from development partners, including China and UNICEF.