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When Japan and the United Nations marked 70 years of cooperation recently, the anniversary was not framed as a ceremonial milestone, but as a case study in what multilateralism can achieve when it is matched by sustained political will, financing, and delivery. In his statement delivered to mark the celebration, the UN Secretary-General described Japan as “a powerful champion of multilateralism,” applauding its generosity to the UN system and its ability to translate principled global engagement into “economic prosperity and peace through a stable and cooperative global system.”That global message resonates clearly in Zimbabwe, where Japan’s partnership with UN agencies has been helping address recurrent humanitarian pressures while strengthening long-term resilience—exactly the balance the Secretary-General called for when he urged multilateralism that “earns trust — through action, solidarity and results people can see, feel and believe in.” Indeed, since Zimbabwe gained independence, Japan has consistently stood by the country, supporting its development and the betterment of its people's lives, often in close cooperation with the United Nations.Multilateralism made tangible, people-centered development results in ZimbabweThe Secretary-General stressed that people must be able to see multilateralism in action—and that the true measure of success is found in “people’s lives… their safety and health… their ability to live in dignity.” In Zimbabwe, Japan’s support—delivered through UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP, and WHO—translates that human-security principle into practical interventions that protect children, strengthen services, and help communities withstand climate shocks.Japan’s commitment through its regular budget extends to critical long-term development initiatives that foster human security. Through UNDP, Japan provides crucial support for landmine clearance in Zimbabwe. This vital effort not only ensures the safety of communities but also facilitates the reclamation of agricultural land, enabling farmers to return to their fields and pursue farming activities, thereby enabling the productive use of land post-demining. Japan also commits to long-term food security and resilience in Zimbabwe. Through WFP, Japan supports initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change. This includes the expansion of drought-resistant sesame production, providing farmers with a sustainable cash crop. Furthermore, Japan is actively assisting efforts to enable these smallholder farmers to export their sesame produce to Japan, directly contributing to their economic empowerment and the improvement of their livelihoods.In addition, under Japan’s  Supplementary Budget and the momentum of TICAD, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and UN agencies have launched five transformative projects aimed at:strengthening maternal and child health and nutrition,preventing malnutrition in El Nino induced drought-hit communities,modernizing medical waste management,improving food security during peak vulnerability season, andusing digital innovation to empower families and communities.Collectively, the initiatives directly benefit more than 86,000 people and extend life-saving information to hundreds of thousands more through digital platforms and messaging.First, responding to crisis, investing in systemsZimbabwe’s development context makes the case for coordinated multilateral action unmistakable. After the severe El Nino induced drought, worst in 40 years, in 2024, about 7.6 million people were projected to face food insecurity in 2025, while child wasting and stunting remain serious concerns. A cholera outbreak affecting thousands further underlined gaps in water, sanitation and hygiene services—especially in remote and drought-affected areas.Japan’s approximately USD 7 million in support to four UN agencies reflected a dual approach: responding to immediate risks while strengthening the systems that prevent crises from repeating.Japan’s partnership with UNICEF focused on two complementary priorities: supporting caregivers with trusted information and tackling child wasting where the drought had hit hardest.RISE and Bebbo 360, a digital support for parents built for local realities: The RISE initiative features Bebbo 360, a mobile parenting app offering real-time, evidence-based guidance from pregnancy through early childhood. Adapted for Zimbabwe, it will incorporate local languages, offline access and personalized content—ensuring the benefits of innovation extend beyond urban centres and data-connected households. It is multilateralism meeting people where they are, with tools that can strengthen parenting practices, early childhood development, and health-seeking behavior at scale. Tackling wasting in Mbire District through community action: In Mbire—one of the districts heavily affected by drought—Japan’s support enables community-based caregiver groups, strengthened health and nutrition services, improved access to clean water, and practical information that families can act on. The approach aligns with Japan’s commitments under the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Compact, linking international pledges to measurable improvements for children at risk.Second, health systems and the environment with modern medical waste managementThe Secretary-General’s call for multilateralism that delivers is also about strengthening the infrastructure that protects public health over time. Through WHO and UNOPS, Japan is spearheading a comprehensive response to medical waste management challenges—an often overlooked but critical element of safe, resilient health systems.The project procured and installed three high-temperature, smokeless medical waste incinerators in Harare and Bulawayo, designed to meet WHO and ISO standards and serve about two million residents. Beyond equipment, the initiative invests in training and technology transfer to build local technical capacity. This is human security in practice with safer facilities, reduced environmental hazards, and stronger readiness for outbreaks.Third, food security during the lean season, bridging emergency and developmentAs climate extremes intensify, food security has become one of Zimbabwe’s most immediate human-security concerns. Japan’s support to WFP’s Lean Season Assistance programme provided three months of critical in-kind food assistance to more than 17,000 people in rural communities severely affected by El Niño-induced drought.This kind of support protects lives in the short term, but it also safeguards long-term development by preventing negative coping strategies that deepen poverty—pulling children out of school, selling productive assets, or reducing meals. It reflects the Secretary-General’s argument that multilateralism must be grounded in “action, solidarity and results.”Fourth, Innovation and resilience deploying AI and drones for climate-smart agricultureJapan’s role as a champion of innovation—highlighted through its global SDGs leadership—also appears in Zimbabwe through UNDP’s pilot of AI and drone-based solutions to control Quelea birds, a major threat to small grain harvests.The intervention is environmentally conscious and tech-driven, coupling innovation with policy dialogue and collaboration among government, the private sector and research institutions. It is also a practical example of the Secretary-General’s call for technological governance and deployment that “puts humanity first,” ensuring new tools serve food security, livelihoods and resilience rather than widening inequality.Fifth, A partnership model aligned with the future of multilateralismThe Secretary-General identified four lessons that will shape the next chapter of multilateralism, namely, make it visible, communicate clearly, build indispensable partnerships, and co-create the future. Zimbabwe’s Japan–UN cooperation reflects each:Visibility: from food assistance and nutrition services to incinerators and digital parenting tools, communities can see and feel the impact.Communication: life-saving messaging and platforms like Bebbo 360 scale trusted information in an era of misinformation.Partnerships: Japan, Zimbabwe and UN agencies combine financing, implementation capacity, and policy alignment.Co-creation: innovation pilots and locally adapted tools show a commitment to solutions shaped by Zimbabwe’s needs, languages and realities.Japan’s support also reinforces a broader shift the UN is advocating through initiatives like the Pact for the Future and UN80—towards a more effective, inclusive, networked UN that can deliver in a complex, multipolar world.Seventy years on, trust built through delivering resultsFor 70 years, Japan and the United Nations have worked “shoulder-to-shoulder,” in the Secretary-General’s words, to advance peace, human rights, sustainable development and climate action. In Zimbabwe, that legacy is being renewed through targeted investments that save lives now and strengthen systems for tomorrow—health, nutrition, safe environments, food security and innovation.As climate shocks deepen and inequalities widen, Zimbabwe’s experience offers a grounded answer to the question at the heart of today’s global debate. Does multilateralism still work? Where partnerships deliver tangible outcomes—cleaner and safer health facilities, healthier children, better-informed caregivers, protected harvests and food on the table—the answer is visible.The future of multilateralism will not be secured by statements alone. It will be secured by the kind of cooperation that is already unfolding in Zimbabwe: practical, people-centred, and built on shared responsibility—united for a better future.