UNDP, working with local and international partners, is supporting Zimbabwe to develop a climate change adaptation project which has been submitted to the Green Climate Fund for consideration. The objective of the proposed project is to support the Government of Zimbabwe in strengthening the resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities in southern Zimbabwe to increasing climate risks and impacts.

The proposed project will enhance the water security for smallholder farmers in light of evolving climate risks by enabling revitalization of irrigation schemes and improving water use efficiency and enhancing soil moisture management on rain fed lands. The proposed project will be implemented in southern Zimbabwe in the semi-arid Agro-Ecological Regions (AERs) IV and V of the provinces of Manicaland, Masvingo and Matebeleland South.  

The proposed project has been developed based on multi-stakeholder discussions and participation of a wide range of stakeholder groups throughout the project design and feasibility study. The needs and views of targeted communities are reflected in the proposed interventions. Civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and private sector players have been engaged in the process, providing technical advice and expressing interest in the proposed project. The stakeholder engagement process will continue throughout the implementation of the project, and is informed by the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

The project is also designed to avoid, minimise and mitigate any potential negative social and environmental consequences of the project. To this end, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared to support the project development and subsequent implementation. The ESMF identifies steps for screening potential social and environmental issues and impacts of particular project activities as their specific locations and details are further defined, and for preparing and approving appropriate action plans for avoiding, and where avoidance is not possible, reducing, mitigating and managing adverse impacts.

The ESMF has been prepared based on the risks identified through screening of activities using UNDPs Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP). The risks identified are considered to be manageable through the application of mitigation measures. The ESMF provides an outline of the types of mitigation measures that are likely to be required when implementing the project.

The Environmental and Social Management Framework, the Stakeholder Engagement Plan and the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure are available here for the information and scrutiny of all stakeholders. Any feedback, questions and concerns arising from these documents can be forwarded to registry.zw@undp.org