The UN in Zimbabwe with the lead of UNDP through a Peace Building Fund (PBF) supported project, is collaborating with Zimbabwean universities (Great Zimbabwe University, National University of Science and Technology, Africa University, Harare Institute of Technology, Midlands State University,  and Bindura University of Science and Tehnology in the implementation of an Internship Fellowship Programme (IFP) to cultivate a national pool of young peacebuilders. This is being done by providing them with a platform for experiental learning on peace and development issues. The IFP  initiative is targeted at 3^rd year students and graduates from the local tertiary institutions.

The orientation session for 50 Zimbabwean students of the second cohort took place between the 14^th and 18^th of August in Harare. It was conducted with the objective of re-thinking approaches to systematic and structured learning. Following the orientation, the 50 fellows were placed in 26 host organisations – ranging from government entities, independent commissions, faith-based institutions, international and national NGOs as part of their 6-12 months experiental learning journey.

An exit session was also conducted on the 14^th of August for the students from the 1^st cohort who had recently completed their 8 month internship placements with 12 host institutions : American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, Culture Fund, Catholic Commission for Justicce and Peace, DanChurchAid, Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum, Media Monitors, MUSASA , NANGO , National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, The Tree of Life and the Zimbabwe Peace Project.

“As an intern, I learnt that If you are tasked with anything, take it up, no matter how hard it sounds or looks - ask questions, nobody knows everything."

Dorcas Chishumba, 1^st cohort intern, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD).

“I learnt a lot of things at Culture Fund like project development, capacity building, report writing, the importance of team work and that some days will be better than others - but one should always give nothing but their best.

Mary Onai Zulu, 1^st cohort intern, Culture Fund

Through the IPF, the UN in Zimbabwe is continuing to advance Sustainable Development Goal 16 of promoting a just, peaceful and inclusive society

*Written with contributions from  Aseem Andrews  and Giorgia Itri.  

Visit the UNDP and UNDPZimbabwe websites to find out more about our work in Governance and Peacebuilding.