A group of women at an Action Against Hunger project in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

High rates of malnutrition, alarming numbers of HIV and AIDS cases and frequent cholera outbreaks are huge humanitarian challenges.

Since its independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has experienced a tense political environment and an unstable economy.

To tackle its financial challenges, the country is creating initiatives to reinvigorate the economy, including replacing the national currency with the American dollar for international trade. While the economy has improved significantly in recent years, the public health situation continues to deteriorate.

Many Zimbabweans suffer from malnutrition coupled with HIV and AIDS infections, but the country’s weakened public health system can’t handle this double threat. Since Action Against Hunger started in Zimbabwe in 2002, we have committed to integrating HIV and AIDS education and treatment in our programmes. Around 70% of patients diagnosed with life-threatening hunger also have HIV and AIDS, and our nutrition programmes are specifically designed to treat this particularly vulnerable group.

Country facts

  • 14.4m

    Zimbabwe has a population of almost 15 million people.

  • 150

    Zimbabwe ranks 150th out 189 countries in the Human Development Index.

  • 27.1%

    Almost 30% of Zimbabwean children under five suffer from malnutrition.

Action Against Hunger’s work in Zimbabwe

In 2019, our teams reached 31,085 people through our programmes in Zimbabwe.

Alongside our local partners Africa Ahead Zimbabwe and Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ), we responded to Cyclone Idai by distributing emergency food supplies and cash transfers to vulnerable communities.

We also distributed emergency sanitation kits to 6,000 people to prevent the spread of disease and infections.

Our response to coronavirus

We’ve been helping to stop the spread of Covid-19 by:

  • carrying out infection prevention and control and WASH programmes in health centres
  • training medical staff for early detection of the virus
  • providing personal protective equipment
  • teaching good hygiene practices

Save lives today

Help more vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe tackle hunger.

Donate now

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