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When Chido Muchipisi arrived at her local food distribution point in Mberengwa District earlier this year, she expected to collect her family’s food ration, as she had done before. What she did not expect was to leave with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service assistance, nutrition information, screening for malnutrition and the associated referrals and a deeper understanding of how to better support her family’s wellbeing.“Food distribution points used to be places where we only came to receive food,” she said. “Now, they have become spaces where we also gain valuable knowledge. The Ministry of Health is here to provide advice on breastfeeding, importance of consumption of diversified diets, while organisations like UNFPA are informing us on reproductive health and offering us SRH services including family planning.”“In the past, all these services were offered in different places, but now everything is available in one location. This one-stop shop with a comprehensive package which saves us time and makes life easier,” she added.Chido’s experience captures the shift underway during Zimbabwe’s 2026 Lean Season Assistance (LSA), which ran from January to April. Led by the World Food Programme (WFP), the response brought UN agencies, Government partners and communities together to deliver not just food, but a comprehensive integrated support that places people at the centre.Turning Distribution Points into Service HubsAcross four districts, Kariba, Bulilima, Mwenezi and Mberengwa, food distribution points became entry points for essential services. While WFP ensured timely food assistance, other UN agencies layered in their expertise, demonstrating the power of the One UN approach – delivering as one UN.UNICEF partnered with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to provide nutrition screening, health education and referrals. UNFPA, working alongside the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), delivered sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, counselling and HIV testing. WHO supported disease prevention, food safety monitoring and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) messaging, while Government environmental health technicians and village health workers anchored services at community level.For the Ministry of Health, the collaboration was an opportunity to meet communities where they already were.“As the Ministry of Health, we always make sure that we bring our services to the people whenever people are gathered,” said a health official supporting the initiative. “This time, we brought our MUAC services, assessing the nutritional status of children from six weeks to five years, directly to the food distribution points. We assess the child and then advise caregivers on how to improve nutrition if needed or encourage them to continue with good practices if the child is doing well.”Village Health Workers played a critical role, screening children, counselling caregivers and referring cases requiring follow‑up at their nearest health facilities. Practical nutrition messaging delivered through cooking demonstrations, megaphones and one‑on‑one conversations, helped caregivers translate information into action at household level.Working as One UN, Reaching More PeopleThe integrated approach delivered clear benefits for communities. Instead of making multiple, costly trips to clinics or district offices, families accessed food, health and nutrition services in one visit, reducing transport burdens and time away from livelihoods.“This is what it means to deliver as One UN,” said WFP Nutritionist, Faith Dube. “Food assistance creates a natural platform. When agencies work around their comparative advantages, collaboratively, we can respond to people’s needs in a more holistic and dignified way.”The collaboration also strengthened accountability to affected populations. Distribution points became spaces for dialogue, where people could ask questions, raise concerns and receive referrals, from health and nutrition support to child protection and social services.A Model for the FutureAs climate shocks, economic pressures and health risks continue to intersect in Zimbabwe, the 2026 Lean Season Assistance offers a compelling example with a proven track record of how integrated, people‑centred responses can deliver more impact with less resources, thus, enhancing efficiency.By working as One UN, partners moved beyond one intervention towards improving access to health and nutrition services, reducing duplication, strengthening accountability, efficiency and respecting people’s time and dignity.For caregivers like Chido, the difference is felt in everyday life: food for today, knowledge for tomorrow, and confidence that support systems are working together for the well‑being of communities. The message from the UN in Zimbabwe was clear, support works best when it works together