Our History - CARE ZIMBABWE

1992 - 2001

Our story began in 1992, when we responded to a severe regional drought providing lifesaving assistance to thousands of people.
Seeing the needs in the country we expanded our programming to address longer-term development issues, along with humanitarian emergency response. Through a combination of global expertise and practical approach to responding to emergencies we started playing a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to thousands of people. We worked to provide lasting solutions to poverty, responding to disasters and emergencies. We were privileged to have committed donors and a strong set of partners, staff and technical experts who helped us tackle the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice in order to deliver lasting change in the lives of poor and vulnerable people in Zimbabwe.

2002 - 2011

In our efforts to combat droughts and support communities in Zimbabwe, we have undertaken several projects focused on emergency food aid. These initiatives have aimed to address the immediate needs of affected populations.Continuing our commitment, from 2000 to“` 2003, we collaborated with the World Food Programme (WFP) through the Emergency Operation Program – Food Aid project. This program specifically focused on delivering food aid to vulnerable populations during times of crisis. In 2008, we extended our support to over 900,000 individuals through the Food Security and Cholera response. This comprehensive project included various Multi-Food Emergency Response initiatives, which aimed to alleviate hunger and provide relief supplies to those affected. Through these projects, we have strived to ensure that essential food supplies reach the communities most in need during times of emergency.

2012-2018

Between 2012 and 2018, CARE embarked on an ambitious endeavor to expand our work in humanitarian programs. During this period, we successfully broadened the scope and scale of our initiatives, reaching more vulnerable populations and addressing critical humanitarian needs around the world. El Nino and La Nina affected Zimbabwe between 2017 and 2018. In 2018 in Zimbabwe, CARE projects reached an estimated 215 000 direct beneficiaries

2019

In 2019 Zimbabwe was not spared from Cyclone Idai which made its landfall in March. We supported 9400 individuals with emergency support during the Elnino in 2016. The cyclone affected 270 000 (140 000 women and 130 000 men) with 70 000 of this number reported as displaced. CARE was amongst the first organisations to respond. We assisted 238,334 people in various communities to respond and recover from the disaster. We further capacitated various communities to prepare for potential disasters. We worked with various organisations such as UNICEF, IOM, OFDA, ECHO global affairs Canada and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

2020-2021

Between 2020 and 2021 we responded to Covid-19 reaching 2,5 million people. Our overall work during the year reached. 3,5 million

2022

CARE implemented various climate resilience building projects in Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland aimed at increasing the capacities of communities to sustain development gains and achieve improved well-being outcomes in the face of various shocks and stresses. Through various programs and layering and sequencing approach CARE responded to climate change building and strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities poor and marginalized communities. In 2022, the Enhancing Community Resilience and Inclusive Market Systems (ECRIMS) project operating in risk communities of Mberengwa and Zvishavane Districts within the Midlands Province reached 42,429 households in 50 wards across the two districts, building their capacities and assets to withstand economic and climate related shocks & stresses.

2023

Today, CARE International in Zimbabwe has a diverse program focused on food security, agriculture and natural resource management, economic development (including micro-finance, business development services, input and output markets, etc.), water, sanitation and hygiene improvements, and health and other social protection issues (including maternal and child health and youth focused programming). In 2023 we supported communities in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland with Community-Based Adaptation (CBA), a key model with a range of strategies of climate change adaptation activities developed in partnership with at-risk communities, in order to promote local awareness of, and appropriate and sustainable solutions to, current and future climatic conditions. Through an Integrated Risk Management (IRM), an enhanced, holistic approach, our work increases community resilience by integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and ecosystem management and restoration. Through projects like Establishing Preparedness Structures and System in Zimbabwe funded by ECHO we worked with the Department of Civil protection in various communities to established warning systems and develop contingency plans to ensure they are prepared and well equipped to respond.

CARE International Zimbabwe History: A Timeline