One UN, One Future as Zimbabwe and the UN Forge Renewed Pact for Inclusive Growth

On 25 June 2026, at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe turned a new page in its more-than-four-decade partnership with the United Nations as Dr. Rosemary Kalapurakal presented her credentials as the new UN Resident Coordinator to His Excellency Dr.  Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Earlier she paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Honourable Professor dr. Amon Murwira. Both meetings underscored a shared message that the Zimbabwe–UN partnership is strategic, results-driven and firmly focused on sustainable development that leaves no one behind.

President Mnangagwa reaffirmed “good relations” between his government and the UN Country Team, calling the UN an important ally in Zimbabwe’s long-term transformation agenda. He and Dr. Kalapurakal emphasized that Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategies (NDS1 and NDS2), Vision 2030, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 align closely with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—and that this alignment is the backbone of cooperation, not mere rhetoric.

Dr. Kalapurakal situated her mandate squarely within that shared vision, pledging that the UN system “will effectively support the delivery of your government’s priorities under NDS2 and Vision 2030, and Agenda 2063.” Those priorities, she noted, mirror the SDGs’ central promise to end poverty, reduce inequality and leave no one behind.

Zimbabwe and the UN have a long record of collaboration across health, education, agriculture, governance, social protection, climate resilience and humanitarian response. Under the 2022–2026 Cooperation Framework, this partnership delivered programmes worth over US$2 billion. Dr. Kalapurakal highlighted tangible gains including expanded HIV treatment and stronger health systems, improved learning outcomes and school retention, enhanced food security and climate resilience, and strengthened social protection and institutional capacities.

President Mnangagwa singled out the UN’s humanitarian assistance during Cyclone Idai, the COVID-19 pandemic and recurrent droughts, thanking the UN for its responsiveness during crises.

A New Framework for a New Phase (2027–2031)

Dr. Kalapurakal’s arrival coincides with finalization of the Zimbabwe–UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (ZUNSDCF) for 2027–2031. Both State House discussions and her meeting with Minister Murwira stressed the need for the new Framework to be firmly anchored in NDS2 to ensure relevance and complementarity.

The emerging ZUNSDCF is built around five mutually reinforcing strategic priorities:

1. Inclusive economic growth
2. Climate resilience, energy and food security
3. Human capital development
4. Inclusive governance and social cohesion
5. Gender equality and social inclusion

Each pillar addresses the SDGs’ pledge to leave no one behind—whether rural farmers facing climate shocks, youth seeking livelihoods, or women and persons with disabilities demanding equal opportunity and protection.

The Resident Coordinator, Leading “One UN”

Drawing on seven years at the centre of UN development system reforms in New York, Dr. Kalapurakal clarified that her role is to lead and coordinate the entire UN system in Zimbabwe, not to manage individual agency programmes. She will head a UN Country Team of 25 UN entities to work “as One UN,” advocating multisectoral policy solutions, convening partners for development financing, communicating priorities for sustainable development, and connecting Zimbabwe to global technical and financial resources.

Both President Mnangagwa and Minister Murwira welcomed this leadership and reiterated Zimbabwe’s support for the UN reform agenda championed by Secretary-General António Guterres—reforms designed to bring the UN closer to people where services and assistance are needed most.

Investing in Youth and Human Capital

With one of the world’s youngest populations, Zimbabwe’s demographic profile can be an engine of growth if deliberate investments are made—especially in young women and vulnerable youth. Linked to the National Youth Strategy 2026–2030 and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the UN will help build stronger pathways from education to skills, jobs and entrepreneurship across creative industries, technology, finance, mining and manufacturing.

Dr. Kalapurakal pledged intensified UN support for digital and innovation ecosystems, targeted programmes for young women, and expanded opportunities for youth facing multiple vulnerabilities so Zimbabwe’s young people can drive inclusive growth.

Economic Transformation and Sustainable Finance

Both government and UN leadership agreed that economic transformation and sustainable financing are preconditions for development. Dr. Kalapurakal stressed Zimbabwe’s potential in energy transition minerals and agriculture and called for moving beyond raw extraction to beneficiation and local value addition that generate decent jobs. The UN will support governance, standards, skills development, environmental safeguards and responsible investment to enable that shift.

A key area of collaboration will be financing for development, including debt and arrears clearance. Minister Murwira emphasized the importance of continuing arrears clearance to unlock development resources. Dr. Kalapurakal said UN resources in Zimbabwe would be “catalytic,” aimed at leveraging larger flows of public and private finance aligned with national priorities.

Building Resilience to Climate and Economic Shocks

Climate change and economic volatility threaten hard-won development gains. Dr. Kalapurakal warned of increasing frequency and intensity of climatic shocks and the risks associated with El Niño conditions. The UN Country Team will support Zimbabwe’s National Resilience Platform to shift from reactive crisis response to anticipatory action—strengthening early warning systems, climate-informed planning and budgeting, and financing mechanisms that bridge humanitarian and development responses.

Resilience efforts will also target health security, road safety and drug and substance abuse—issues President Mnangagwa has elevated nationally. The UN pledged support for integrated, data-driven systems and a whole-of-society, whole-of-government and whole-of-UN approach.

Multilateralism, the Security Council and South–South and Triangular Cooperation

A strong subtext of the engagements was Zimbabwe’s growing global role. Both leaders noted Zimbabwe’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027–2028 as an affirmation of international confidence and the country’s commitment to multilateralism. The seat provides Zimbabwe an opportunity to shape global peace and security debates and amplify African perspectives.

Dr. Kalapurakal also pledged to deepen South–South and triangular cooperation in line with NDS2, engaging UN counterparts across SADC, Asia and Latin America to connect Zimbabwe with expertise, technology and experience. The UN will facilitate more systematic coordination on South–South as well as Triangular partnerships to accelerate national priorities.

A Partnership of Respect and Tangible Progress

From State House to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the day’s tone was one of mutual respect, shared priorities and determination to deliver improvements in Zimbabweans’ lives. President Mnangagwa reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a productive relationship with the UN system and wished Dr. Kalapurakal success. Minister Murwira signaled readiness to continue strong cooperation on financing for development, job creation, South–South and Traingular cooperation and strategic communication.

Dr. Kalapurakal conveyed warm greetings from the UN Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General and expressed humility and purpose: “I come to Zimbabwe with deep respect—for your country’s sovereignty, institutions and the resilience and aspirations of its people,” she said. “At an important inflection point—facing both opportunity and complexity—please count on me to ensure the United Nations rises to that moment as a trusted, neutral and effective partner.”

As her credentials were formally received, the message was clear: the Zimbabwe–UN partnership is enduring and evolving toward deeper alignment, stronger coordination and a sharper focus on inclusive, resilient and sustainable development that leaves no one behind.