This climate-based adaptation project is being implemented in three countries, including Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with a focus on building community resilience to climate change while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity in Southern Africa and beyond.
Under the support of BMUV-IKI, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique have been allocated a total of Euro 19,996,120, with Zimbabwe receiving Euro 6.6 million.
The project in Zimbabwe aims to benefit 18,800 direct beneficiaries and approximately 190,000 indirect beneficiaries in Bikita and Chiredzi.
During the project launch, the German Ambassador to Zimbabwe emphasized Germany’s foreign policy commitment to addressing climate change and the need for collective action and international cooperation.
The Ambassador said, “Our commitment to the Paris Agreement underscores the importance we place on limiting global temperature rise and supporting vulnerable nations in adapting to the changing climate. In alignment with this policy, Germany actively engages in bilateral diplomatic arrangements with countries around the world, including Zimbabwe. We recognize the unique vulnerabilities that nations face in the wake of climate change, and it is our shared responsibility to work collaboratively towards sustainable solutions.”
Director Education and Publicity Manager for the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Amkela Sidange, giving her remarks on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Professor Prosper B. Matondi, highlighted the National Development Plan (NDS1) and Zimbabwe’s National Climate Policy as the key guiding framework for government’s climate change efforts.
Ms Sidange emphasized the significance of community-based structures and the inclusive approach of the project, stating, “By engaging communities in the planning process, we are not only ensuring that interventions are context-specific but also fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment among our people. This inclusive approach ensures that the most vulnerable among us are active participants in shaping their own destinies, as enshrined in the Government policy of leaving no one and no place behind.”
Patrick Sikana, Country Director of CARE International, expressed the importance of collective responsibility in addressing climate change, stating, “As we launch this project, we recognize that no single entity can tackle the complexities of climate change alone. This project will draw lessons that can be applied in other communities, assuring them that the world has not turned their back on them.”
While implementing the CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+ in Zimbabwe, CARE International will collaborate with the Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Additionally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will work alongside CESVI. The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) will jointly lead policy engagement and the integration of community-based adaptation activities.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Pauline Hurungudo
0774684739
About CARE International:
CARE International in Zimbabwe is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice. CARE works to empower vulnerable communities and promote lasting change. For more information, visit www.carezimbabwe.org.