By Dickson Bandera
Four communities in Zimbabwe are set to benefit from a US$14 million (£12 million) investment availed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) towards climate, energy, water and agriculture.
The four communities – Binga, Chipinge, Chivi and Insiza will benefit from this investment which has been directed towards early warning systems, increasing access to water for production and household use, especially during droughts and floods, and improving access to clean and affordable energy to support economic activities.
The initiative is aptly named Climate Adaptation Water and Energy Programme (CAWEP).
FCDO and UNDP launched the three-year programme at a colourful ceremony at the Miekles Hotel in Harare recently to help rural communities adapt and build resilience to the impact of climate change.
When complete, CAWEP will have connected 12,500 people to electricity on a solar micro-grid in Hakwata, Chipinge, while 150,000 people will access water in Mlibizi (Binga), Wanezi (Insiza) and Gororo (Chivi).
130 hectares of agriculture land will be put to productive use and over half a million people will get access to location specific, early warning information.
This development will complement the Government of Zimbabwe efforts to develop all communities under the National Development Strategy 1, which feeds into the national Vision 2030 that seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030.
Speaking at the launch the Permanent Secretary for Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ambassador R.T. Faranisi represented by the National Coordinator and Chief Director for Environment, Climate and Met Services Prof P. Matondi, said that the project came at an opportune time as the just ended 27th Conference of Parties (COP 27) decided on the Global Goal on Adaptation that will inform the first Global Stocktake to be undertaken in 2023, with an aim of improving resilience amongst the most vulnerable.
COP 27 also launched a mitigation work programme in Sharm el-Sheikh to scale mitigation ambition and implementation until 2030. Governments were requested to revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets in their national climate plans by the end of 2023.
The mitigation component of this project will therefore complement Zimbabwe government efforts to meet with the Paris Agreement obligations.
FCDO Deputy Development Director and Head of Green Growth Martin Alsop expressed hope that the investment will help alleviate climate change effects in the affected communities.
“The effects of climate change are already being felt across Zimbabwe. This new programme will help build the resilience of vulnerable communities and enable improved livelihoods. We as the UK are proud to work with the Government of Zimbabwe and our UN partners to deliver this vital project”.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mia Seppo added “Investments in climate resilient agriculture are key in promoting more sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth, jobs and livelihoods, and food security in Zimbabwe. This support will enable continued access to water for productive and household use, including during droughts and floods, and improved access to clean and affordable energy to support economic activities.”
The CAWEP will be implemented by UNDP in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Ministry of Energy and Power Development and other partners.
The launch was also attended by the UNDP representative Mia Seppo, FCDO Deputy Development Director Martin Alsop, Director for Climate Change Management Department Mr Washington Zhakata, Director for Met Services Mrs Rebecca Manzou and other key stakeholders.
