General information

About the mission

Launch date: 2002
Local staff : 44
Expatriates :10

Key facts

Population: 11 million inhabitants
Human Development Indicator : 151 out of 177

Humanitarian context

Zimbabwe regained its independence in April 1980 after 15 years of armed conflict following the unilateral declaration of independence in 1965. Since then, the Zimbabwe African Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), led by Robert Mugabe, has been in power.

The country faces endemic poverty and a very high level of HIV/AIDS (around 1/3 of the adult population is HIV-positive). The country's economic situation has seriously deteriorated since the end of the 1990s, and access to basic services (water, healthcare, etc.) is insufficient.

This deterioration has increased since the implementation of an agricultural reform in 2000, which aimed at redistributing land belonging to the white minority. This proved difficult in a country where land issues are a constant source of tension. This reform destroyed the productive structure of the country and resulted in a decline in agricultural yield. This decline, combined with recurring climatic problems, contributed to the precarious nutritional situation. In addition, according to the available information, access to water and sanitation has decreased sharply over the last few years, greatly worsening the situation.

Zimbabwe's case is very specific one. Not so long ago, Zimbabwe was considered a model of economic success in sub-Saharan Africa, and as the region's main farming producer. Now, the country must deal with the collapse of its economy and the decline of its social services.

Despite an apparent improvement in food security at a national level, the poorest people continue to suffer from chronic malnutrition. 90% of the households surveyed in 2006 revealed that they had not produced enough food to last until the next harvest. As a result, they had either reduced the number of meals, or the amount of food they ate.

Action Against Hunger in Zimbabwe

Action Against Hunger has been active in Zimbabwe since 2002, struggling to avoid a catastrophe that could arise from the serious food crisis caused by drought (in addition to the steep economic depression). The organisation also operates food security programmes and works with HIV-positive people to prevent and fight against malnutrition, in particular in the Midlands region where the level of HIV is one of the highest in the country.

Midlands region

Food security

• Monitoring and analysis of food security situation

• Income-generating activities set up

Water, sanitation and hygiene

• Renovation of water points, drilled-wells and wells to ensure access to drinking water
• Construction of latrines
• Setting up hygiene education sessions
• Setting up management committees for water points
• Improving the capacities of local actors in terms of water management

Nutrition and Health

• Setting up nutritional gardens
• Education sessions on nutrition and diseases (Malaria, HIV, etc.)

Manicaland region

Food security

• Development of traditional farming activities
• Optimisation of natural resources and making them available to the people
• Distribution of tools, phytosanitary products, small livestock (goats)
• Monitoring and analysis of the food security situation
• Distribution of seeds
• Raising awareness of alternative farming methods
• Promotion of healthy foodstuffs via "conservation farming" programmes

Nutrition and Health

• Support for people living with HIV/AIDS

Matebeleland region

Food security

• Monitoring and analysis of food security

Water and Sanitation

• Renovation of water points, drilled-wells and wells to ensure access to drinking water
• Setting up management committees for water points
• Setting up hygiene education sessions

Nutrition and Health

• Setting up nutritional gardens
• Education sessions on nutrition and diseases (Malaria, HIV, etc.)

Masvingo region

Water and Sanitation

• Improving the capacities of local actors in terms of water management
• Income-generating activities set up
• Renovation of water points & latrines
• Hygiene promotion

Funding

ECHO, EU, FAO, private donations