United Nations in Zimbabwe

The 2016 – 2021 Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF), co-chaired by Government and the United Nations, is the strategic document via which UN Entities channel their support to the achievement of the SDGs in Zimbabwe. The ZUNDAF, which comprises six result areas and fifteen outcomes is fully aligned to the SDGs. The six result areas are: Social Services and Protection; Poverty Reduction and Value Addition; Food and Nutrition; Gender Equality; HIV and AIDS; and Public Administration and Governance. The United Nations in Zimbabwe also supports Government to conduct regular monitoring and reporting on progress towards the SDGs at national and sub-national levels. In addition, the United Nations regularly facilitates national and local consultations and advocacy campaigns in partnership with the Office of the President and Cabinet, Government Ministries, Parliament, Development Partners, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations, Youth Group, Media, and the Public on mainstreaming and implementation of the SDGs.

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29 October 2020

Government, UN rollout roadmap for new cooperation framework

The Government and the United Nations system convened a high-level review meeting on 23 October 2020, to validate the 2016-2020 Zimbabwe UN Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) independent evaluation. The high-level meeting also assessed progress, the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on development and discussed a roadmap for the next Cooperation Framework between Government and the United Nations. The high-level meeting co-chaired by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. M.J.M Sibanda, and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Maria Ribeiro brought together senior Government and UN officials, representatives of national and international NGOs, and Civil Society reference group on Sustainable Development Goals. Noting that under the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF, the UN delivered USD 1.7 billion in various development projects and programmes as of the end of 2019, Ms Ribeiro said, “despite a challenging first half of 2020, the UN stepped up efforts to support the national COVID-19 response plan, which include awareness raising, procurement of PPEs, strengthening laboratory system for surveillance, infection prevention and control, and continuity of essential services.” The UN system has continued to support Zimbabwe on matters of food security; gender equality; water, hygiene and sanitation; education; economic empowerment and community resilience amongst others. Commending the UN development system as reliable, time-tested and trusted partners in Zimbabwe’s development agenda, Chief Secretary to President and Cabinet, Dr. M.J.M Sibanda said, “to achieve the goals and targets within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires significant scale up of investment and broader collaboration with the UN, development partners and the private sector to steer cooperation towards accelerated SDG delivery.” Through the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF, the United Nations provided support towards humanitarian and development efforts with focus on six result areas: social services and protection; food and nutrition security; HIV and AIDS; poverty reduction and value addition; gender equality; as well as good governance and public administration. The independent evaluation conducted in 2019 concluded that the ZUNDAF has been a key vehicle in support the country’s effort to attain Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In addition, the evaluation noted that the ZUNDAF has laid the ground for the UN system in Zimbabwe to ‘Deliver as One’ include the joint UN-European Union Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls as well as resilience building, youth and people living with disabilities. The UN Team in Zimbabwe together with national and international partners has rolled out the process to formulate a new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which will be informed by 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Agenda 2063 of the African Union; and the new upcoming National Development Strategy (NDS 2021 - 2025).

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24 June 2020

COVID-19 pandemic reveals investment in development reaps rewards during crisis

Cricensia Tshu, one of the nurses at Sipepa Rural Hospital, takes out the insulated case of vaccines from the refrigerator to prepare for the day. As with other days, Cricensia prepares to receive mothers as they bring their infants for their vaccination shots. Two years ago, this routine activity would not have been guaranteed. Unreliable power supply, which has affected Zimbabwe and most Southern African countries, created inconsistencies in the availability of vaccines which need to maintain a cold chain from the central pharmacies in Harare to Sipepa, over 550 km away. UNDP with support from the Global Fund and in partnership with Ministry of Health and Child Care, and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, equipped 405 health facilities across the country with solar systems of varying capacity. These systems provide primary power for critical operations including in maternal theatres and wards; pharmacies for medicines and vaccine refrigeration; information systems; and night lighting in the facilities. “The experience from our partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and Global Fund provides a platform to continuously invest in a robust health system that can adequately absorb the demand on health facilities” said UNDP Resident Representative, Georges van Montfort. As Zimbabwe prepares for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, the investment in 405 health facilities with solar grids will play a critical role in response to the disease. Power for medical devices, information systems and lighting will be important to contain the spread of the virus, provide care for patients and for real-time reporting of incidents across the country. Through the Global Fund, the UN has supported the National Response Plan to COVID-19 through the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline health workers with US$4.1 million. UNDP is partnering with the Government, other UN agencies and the private sector to engage communities on information dissemination; support youth-led business working on the COVID-19 response, and to support the informal sector. Further, options for Global Fund support to the COVID response by the health sector are also being considered. The partnership between Government, Global Fund and UNDP to strengthen national health systems is supporting the country towards achievement of SDGs 3, 7, 8, 13 and 17: Good health and well-being, Affordable and clean energy, Decent work, Climate action and partnerships.

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24 June 2020

Providing services to survivors of gender-based violence during COVID-19

“Our work with Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and advancing women’s rights is not stopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, our contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 is to ensure that we continuously monitor and bring forward cases of gender-based violence through our members,” said Director of Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau, Ronika Mumbire. Women are largely affected both physically and emotionally while they are also at higher risk of infection as they respond to the crisis. Data from previous outbreaks’ emergency response efforts often divert resources from essential services, exacerbating ordinary lack of access to services, including pre- and post-natal health care, as well as contraceptives. UN Women Country Representative, Delphine Serumaga maintains that it is essential to address the immediate needs of women. “Everybody thinks that the world stops just because we have Covid-19 amongst us. No! That is not true. All other essential services must continue. It is imperative to ensure that women have an escape route when they are faced with abusive situations, while other individuals who are witnessing abuse must have adequate knowledge to advise or report such situations,” she said. Life-saving services for survivors of gender-based violence continue to be offered during Zimbabwe’s COVID-19-related lockdown, such as those offered by Bubi Shelter in Bubi district. This provides, not only shelter for survivors, but has also helps improve the reporting of cases. As part of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, UNFPA Zimbabwe is working closely with civil society organizations and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Community and Small to Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED) to ensure the continuation of GBV services. CSO partners include Musasa Project, Adult Rape Clinic, Family AIDS Counselling Trust, Family Support Trust, FACT, ZAPSO, ZICHIRE and World Vision. These efforts include equipping all supported GBV facilities – static and mobile one-stop centres, shelters and safe spaces – with COVID-19 infection, prevention and control (IPC) supplies. IPC supplies include masks, gloves, thermometers, temporary isolation tents for GBV survivors with suspicious symptoms, and extra transport support as alternatives to limited availability of public transport for survivors being referred to higher levels of care. These measures are critical to ensure that survivors receive the services they need, while also mitigating against the risk of exposure to COVID-19. As a safe haven, Bubi shelter has become a beacon of hope in the community. It shows what can be achieved when there is solidarity against the crime of violence against women and girls. The facility brings together religious leaders, councillors, and men and women from the community to discuss how to end GBV against women and girls in the community, explained Ward Councillor Mbizo Siwela. We are very happy and grateful for the shelter as it is doing a good job in checking and supressing GBV. “The shelter has helped bring to light the plight of the girl child through community forum meetings, where issues relating to prevention of and response to gender-based violence are shared,” he said. “We are very happy and grateful for the shelter as it is doing a good job in checking and supressing GBV. The shelter has helped improve reporting of GBV cases.” Currently housing 15 survivors and 4 accompanying minors, the facility shelters women and girls who have experienced GBV, mostly at the hands of those who are supposed to love and protect them. “Enduring this type of violence is not an easy experience,” said Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, during a recent visit to the shelter. “We must ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and that this leads to convictions. We must never allow this to happen as a community. We must also ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and that this leads to convictions,” she said. The majority of GBV cases registered at Bubi shelter involve adolescent girls. The facility has also emerged as a strong link in the referral system, ensuring that survivors get a comprehensive package of care. Bubi equips the survivors with skills and knowledge on how to deal with GBV, thus training them to become community ambassadors ready to help others who might potentially experience violence. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a tremendous effect on gender-based violence due to resultant socio-economic stresses. Cases of gender-based violence have been on the rise globally, as well as in Zimbabwe. In a normal month, the Musasa Project Call Center receives approximately 500 calls from survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Within a week of the lockdown being enforced in Zimbabwe, however, we have received 592 calls from women and girls experiencing GBV.” This increase in GBV cases is worrisome, but organizations such as Musasa Project are working tirelessly to ensure that women and girls receive the help and services they require to overcome abuse. For instance, Musasa Project has continued to provide safe spaces to survivors of GBV who need to seek shelter away from their abusive homes. Through the joint global Spotlight Initiative of European Union and the United Nations is providing assistance to organizations such as Musasa Project to ensure survivors of GBV have access to quality GBV services. This support will prove to be even more critical as cases of GBV rise rapidly due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. To report for sexual and gender-based violence, contact immediately the following toll-free hotlines available 24 hours: Musasa Project: 08080074 Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA): 08080131

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31 August 2021

UN assessment report outlines development challenges, opportunities in Zimbabwe

The UN has recently published the Common Country Assessment (CCA) report which was commissioned to determine the scope of development cooperation with the Government of Zimbabwe for the next five years – 2022 to 2026. The assessment report pointed out that recurrent humanitarian crises continue to impede Zimbabwe’s progress towards the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. The CCA findings also noted that Zimbabwe made remarkable progress in the first decade of independence with quantum improvements in social wellbeing, while registering a decline in some socio-economic indicators, largely due to prolonged periods of economic recession, political challenges, and recurrent climate-induced humanitarian crises. “The CCA provides an analytical snapshot of the dynamics of development in the country to inform the programmatic priorities for the UN in Zimbabwe in support of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the National Development Strategy 2021-2025,” said Ms. Maria Ribeiro, UN Resident Coordinator. The CCA covered five Ps of sustainable development, namely: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships. The CCA makes recommendations to inform development strategies: “The pathway to the goal of transformative change embodied in several key policy instruments of the Government of Zimbabwe such as Vision 2030 and the NDS1 requires an increased and intensive focus on socio-economic and political empowerment. Socio-economic and political empowerment in turn, requires the strengthening of human capabilities and the generation of sustainable economic opportunities, while harnessing innovation to accelerate attainment of the SDGs,” the document reads. In order to build long-term resilience among the most vulnerable populations and avoid pushing them further behind, the CCA recommends that there should be a focus on strengthening systems and catalysing collaborative and transformative partnerships, not only with the Government but also with critical players including development partners, local authorities, the private sector, civil society, and communities. To enable economic transformation, equitable and inclusive growth, the CCA points as priority the need for collaboration in strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), deepening value chains and reinforcing the nexus between employment and economic growth while catalysing investments in infrastructure and green investments is fundamental to sustained economic growth and poverty reduction. This would involve supporting the country’s plans in areas of agriculture, value addition and beneficiation of key value chains and linkages and improving the mining fiscal framework, among other actions. In terms of governance, the CCA notes that working with the Government and all partners to strengthen the capacity of key governance institutions to promote dialogue and citizen participation, fight corruption, and deliver equitable justice and public services will be vital to anchor foundations for transformative and sustainable development. Read the CCA Report

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08 February 2021

Increasing agricultural production, tackling socio-economic challenges

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) managed Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF), funded by European Union, Sweden and UK, supporting irrigation-based farming to transform agriculture production in Beitbridge district. A consortium of stakeholders including; International Rescue Committee, Cesvi, Bio Hub, Matopo Research Institute and Cimmyt are running various projects under the Program for Growth and Resilience (PROGRESS). Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic challenge, Cesvi’s Area Co-ordinator for Beitbridge, Mr Munyaradzi Katemaudzanga, said that they were hard at work with 112 smallholder farmers supported with citrus farming venture at the 100-hectare Kwalu irrigation Scheme in Ward 11. “Recently 8 400 citrus trees were planted translating to 75 trees per person and the trees are expected to start bearing with an estimated crop yield of 3,5 tonnes/ ha,” Ms. Katemaudzanga said. The ZRBF which began implementation in 2017 targets 840,000 people with on and off farm intervention in 18 rural districts with recurrent vulnerability to external shocks. Meanwhile, with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), IOM launched a Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and nutritional garden training programme for migrant returnees. Developed and conducted by Foundations for Farming (FfF) the initiative will equip 1200 targeted beneficiaries with a foundation for commercial vegetable production once they have met their own nutritional requirements and honed their skills as gardeners. This is done in part by engaging returning migrants in programmes to recover lost livelihoods while providing for a sustainable recovery post-COVID-19. Following the training, beneficiaries receive an agricultural kit with tools, vegetable seeds and fertilizers to start their home gardening project.

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08 February 2021

Strengthening surveillance, case management, public information to stem COVID-19 surge

With generous funding from Africa Development Bank, WHO together with Africa CDC provided on the job support and supervision to Mashonaland West Province (Chegutu District Hospital, Norton Hospital, Sanyati Mission Hospital, Kadoma General Hospital & Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital) Rapid Response Team (RRT). The support aimed to strengthen the surveillance, case management and coordination between District and Provincial rapid response teams. Meanwhile, with financial support from the World Bank through ZIRP, WHO handed over a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and IT equipment at Gutu and Silveira Mission Hospitals in Masvingo Province. The equipment will assist rural facilities and health workers with adequate PPE in the fight against COVID-19. "There has been an increase in COVID-19 cases within the district and the equipment given to us will help in ensuring that our health workers are protected as they continue to offer all services to the community," said Bikita District Medical Officer Dr Thalia Mungwari. On related news, through the World Bank funded Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Programme (ZIRP), UNICEF in collaboration with GOAL Zimbabwe has embarked on outdoor media campaign using art murals promoting positive health behaviors in Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Masvingo provinces. The outdoor media campaign is targeting nearly 2.5 million people, including 400,000 children and almost 200,000 pregnant and lactating women in the three predominantly rural provinces. The murals act as collective thought spaces to create dialogue and raise awareness amongst mothers, caregivers, fathers, and communities on promoting health messages including information on promoting maternal neonatal and child health services, promoting male participation in family health and COVID-19 prevention. At Chako shopping centre, the enthusiasm was easily noticeable. One woman said the mural reminded her of one she had seen earlier on malaria prevention. “Once you see the pictures, you never forget,” she said. “The colors are bright, you can’t miss it,” said a man buying fuel at an adjacent petrol station. He added, “Protecting the wall and spreading the message at the same time, what a clever way to save lives.”

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Press Release

19 August 2021

UN Country Team Zimbabwe Message on World Humanitarian Day

19 August 2021, Harare - The 2021 World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is dedicated to highlighting the human cost of the climate crisis. The climate crisis doesn’t affect everyone equally. People in vulnerable situations are already losing their lives, homes, and livelihoods. Time is running out for millions of the world’s most vulnerable people. The 2021 WHD, with a hashtag #TheHumanRace campaign, is a clarion call against the climate crisis clock. The UN Country Team calls on all people in Zimbabwe to join the race and participate in the Call to Action using #TheHumanRace on their social media handles. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report published in August 2021 highlighted the link between human-induced climate change and extreme climactic events being experienced in every region across the planet. Human induced climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of heat waves, heavy precipitation in some regions and droughts in others, as well as rising sea levels and melting glaciers to name a few examples. Without adopting rapid climate informed development programmes, the commitment made by 193 UN Member States to attain the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will not materialize. Like most countries on the planet, Zimbabwe has experienced the harmful impact of climate shocks including consecutive severe droughts, floods and an increased occurrence of cyclones such as Idai in 2019. The impacts are felt first and foremost through water, impacting basic human rights and livelihoods. In 2019, some 270,000 people’s access to safe water and sanitation were negatively impacted by Cyclone Idai while drought put an additional 775,000 people’s water and sanitation at risk. The impact on Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector which is vulnerable to climate change have been significant. Agricultural production remains largely rain-fed and dominated by a single crop, maize. Crop and livestock production represent more than half of the total income earned by rural households. Women are disproportionately affected by climactic shocks as they constitute 61% of the farmers and provide 70% of the labor – mostly unpaid family workers. Safeguarding food security and ending hunger are therefore fundamental priorities in Zimbabwe. So too, is the active engagement of the youth to lead the way through green- innovation and green-creation. Building resilience in the agricultural sector through strengthening the linkages between humanitarian as well as development responses remains critical. Foreign direct investment as well as domestic private finance and investment are important sources of climate finance. A mix of public and private sources of finance will be needed to implement the climate adaptation and mitigation measures outlined in the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution. The United Nations in Zimbabwe has supported initiatives and projects to respond to climate change, provide basic services and cushion livelihoods. More specifically, the United Nations has: Assisted some 1.1 million people in 23 districts prone to recurrent natural disasters with various resilience building projects including in climate smart agriculture and business. Assisted approximately 138,255 people in eight cyclone-prone districts to put climate risk management plans in place and bolster environmental protection, including to protect safe drinking water. Assisted small-scale farmers to diversify away from maize and to cultivate diverse and drought resistant crops such as sorghum, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, and beans. Diversifying crop production helps to strengthen capacity and ensure environmental protection through maintenance of soil nutrients. In addition, farmers have been supported to adopt climate smart agriculture including drip irrigation to optimize usage of limited water resources, and weather information systems for collecting data and predicting weather patterns. Supported the development and roll out of key policies such as: the forthcoming National Adaptation Plan, National Environmental Policy and National Climate Policy in order to strengthen the enabling policy environment in Zimbabwe and to review the country’s progress on its commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The United Nations in Zimbabwe recognizes the need to do more to tackle the looming climate crises with a sense of urgency that it deserves. Under its forthcoming five-year United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022-2026), the United Nations will continue to prioritize as one of its four key priorities, programmes aimed at ensuring greater environmental stability and robust food, water, and sanitation systems in support of healthy lives and equitable, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods. To win the race against the looming climate emergency, as the UN Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres said, “Let’s lace up our running shoes, join #TheHumanRace campaign, and together, make sure everyone reaches the finish line.” About World Humanitarian Day On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the General Assembly adopted Resolution A/63/L.49 designating 19 August as WHD. Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.

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Press Release

03 June 2021

Zimbabwe launches national dialogues on food systems

3 June 2021, Harare –Today the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement and the United Nations in Zimbabwe jointly launched national and provincial dialogues on food systems. Launching the national food systems dialogues, Honourable Dr. A J Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement underlined that the UN Food Systems dialogues were adopted to enable systematic and inclusive opportunities for stakeholders to be engaged in food systems. Noting the Government of Zimbabwe’s focus on transforming production and food systems was in sync with the objectives of the UN Food Systems Summit taking place in New York in September 2021, Dr Masuka said, “The Summit depends on the engagement of citizens all over the world, through a ‘three-stage’ dialogue process.” The three stage process are: identification of issues affecting food systems and existing national plans for sustainable food systems; identify promising approaches from engagements at sub national level that contribute to the development of national pathways especially in the face of devolution; and national authorities and stakeholder leaders to exchange views about the pathways and commitments of different actors towards sustainable national food systems by 2030. The launch which brought together over 130 delegates from Government, UN, Civil Society, Private Sector and Communities underlined that sustainable food systems remain critical to the achievement of all the SDGs and are directly related to health and well-being, and environmental sustainability. Noting that Zimbabwe has joined 116 UN Member States that have committed to convene such dialogues ahead of the global UN Food Systems Summit later in the year, Ms. Maria Ribeiro, UN Resident Coordinator for Zimbabwe said, “the Food Systems Summit is central to the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by shaping the future direction and action for food systems.” The UN Secretary General, in September 2021, will convene a High-Level Food Systems Summit at the General Assembly in New York. Food systems encompass the entire range of actors and their interlinked value-adding activities involved in the production, aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food products that originate from agriculture, forestry or fisheries, and parts of the broader economic, societal and natural environments in which they are embedded. The objective of the UN global Food Systems Summit is to come up with solutions to transform food production, consumption, and the ecosystem to “build forward better” from COVID-19 and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Summit aims to deliver the following four outcomes: generate significant action and measurable progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. raise awareness and elevate public discussion about how reforming food systems can benefit people and the environment. develop principles to guide governments and other stakeholders looking to leverage their food systems to support the SDGs. leave a system in place to ensure that the Summit’s outcomes continue to drive new actions and progress. The national and planned subsequent provincial dialogues, as well as other dialogues that are being organized by Non-Governmental Organizations, including youth groups are expected to deliver perspectives to transform food systems in Zimbabwe. The United Nations in Zimbabwe in its new five-year UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022-2026) in support of national development priorities has adopted environmental protection, climate resilience and natural resource management as one of the four key strategic priority areas. The UN agencies in Zimbabwe have been supporting national efforts towards reaching the most vulnerable who live in fragile environments across the country and progressively building community resilience and livelihoods. Following the launch of the national food systems dialogue today, a series of localized dialogues will be convened in all Zimbabwe’s provinces in the coming weeks. Media Contacts : Barbra Machekano | Communications Officer | Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement | Email: barbsmute@gmail.com | Mobile: +263-773-847213 Kevin Mazorodze| Communications Specialist | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) | Email: Kevin.Mazorodze@fao.org | Mobile: +263-718-529889 Sirak Gebrehiwot | Communications Specialist | United Nations Zimbabwe Resident Coordinator’s Office | Email: Sirak.gebrehiwot@one.un.org | Mobile: +263-772-198036

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Press Release

08 March 2021

International Women’s Day: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a dim light on the progress made in achieving gender equality by 2030 in Zimbabwe as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A little over one year since the pandemic struck, a myriad of studies and surveys have reported exacerbation of gender inequalities as women and girls continue to bear the brunt of unpaid labour, while being disproportionately at risk of violence compared to their male counterparts. The pandemic is indeed not only a health crisis but also a social one. The COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to curb the spread of the disease, such as national lockdowns have resulted in what is now dubbed “The Shadow Pandemic” as emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.[1] Teenage pregnancies are also on the rise as a result of the lockdowns. The world has come to understand that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights. Such a recognition illustrates that gender-based violence is not as a result of women and girls’ innate vulnerability, but a deeply-rooted structural discrimination against women and girls that perpetuates gender inequality. Gender inequality lies at the very root of gender-based violence, and unless the issue is addressed, a future where women and girls live free from violence and discrimination is futile. Thus, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues and efforts to curb its spread intensify, now is the time to equally buckle up and work hard to achieve gender equality in spite of the challenges the pandemic has revealed. This is a matter of urgency as women are at the forefront of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as healthcare and frontline workers both at institutional level and at home. The Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls is so critical now more than ever in the fight against gender-based violence in Zimbabwe. The European Union (EU) has committed USD21m for phase 1 of implementation of the Spotlight Initiative and is leading the fight for gender equality from the front. The Spotlight Initiative takes the EU political commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and particularly SDG 5, to the next level. With the generous funding of the EU, the four-year Spotlight Initiative programme aims to: Ensure that Zimbabwe adopts and implements legislation that strengthens the Constitutional provisions on gender equality, which leads to effective prevention and response to all forms of GBV and strengthens institutions to be more gender-responsive in their overall mandates, Design programmes that advance prevention of violence, Provide essential services to survivors, and Foster a strong social movement against violence and harmful practices at the national and sub-national levels. Achieving gender equality and ending violence against women and girls can only be realized through a whole-society approach. For Zimbabwe to protect and ensure the rights of women and reap the benefit from engaging more than half of the population to recover better from COVID-19, a deliberate policy and strategic focus should include: First, ensuring equal access to education. Gender inequality in education leads to higher fertility, higher child mortality, higher malnutrition, and lower education investments with the effects often being quite large. Policies designed to boost enrolment would particularly help poor women and thus contributing to poverty reduction in income and non-income dimensions. In addition, the educational attainment and future financial status of children is much likely to reflect those of the mother than those of the father. Considering that human capital is the most important prerequisite for growth, education and enhanced economic status for women are critical to meeting long-term development objectives. Second, women must be drawn into the economic mainstream. The consequence of decline in women’s relative or absolute economic status has both an ethical and long-term economic implication. Any process of growth that fails to improve the welfare of the people experiencing the greatest hardship, broadly recognized to be women, has failed to accomplish one of the principal goals of development. In the long run, the low status of women would translate into slow economic growth. Third, regulating and legalizing informal-sector employment where the majority of the female labour force (about 90 % according to some estimates) is employed would improve the economic status of women through facilitating access to credit and other services. Fourth, increased participation of women in governance and political decision making at all levels. Women’s empowerment either through affirmative action or other avenues is associated with improved governance and reduced corruption. Gender equality is a critical economic issue for Zimbabwe, directly linked to growth and poverty reduction outcomes, and not a marginal social or women’s issue concerned with equity, and thus should be prioritized as a matter of urgency for the country to progress. The Spotlight Initiative, led by the UN Resident Coordinator, is being implemented by six UN Agencies (UN Women, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF) in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, Parliament, Independent Commissions, Civil Society, Academic Institutions, the Private Sector, and the Media and directly and indirectly targets 11 million beneficiaries, particularly rural women and girls, women and girls with disabilities and those living with HIV. [1] “The Shadow Pandemic: Violence against women during COVID-19”: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19

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Press Release

25 February 2021

Government, UN Set Strategic Priorities for a New Five-Year Cooperation Framework

Today at a high-level consultative virtual meeting, the Government of Zimbabwe and the UN Country Team determined four strategic priority areas for the new 2022-2026 Zimbabwe-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The meeting brought together Senior Government Officials and Heads of UN Entities and was convened jointly by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. M J M Sibanda and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Maria Ribeiro. Noting the Government of Zimbabwe’s long-standing partnership with the United Nations, Dr. Sibanda said, “the UN Cooperation Framework strategic priority areas are aligned to the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) 2021-2025 with corresponding outcomes to contribute to the transformative agenda of the Government by refocusing the UN’s convening power and resource mobilization capabilities towards sustainable development.” The four strategic priority areas agreed are: People-centered, equitable, human development and well-being. Environmental protection, climate resilience and natural resource management; Economic transformation, equitable and inclusive growth; and Transformative, accountable, equitable and inclusive governance. The UN Cooperation Framework, central to the success of the UN Development System reform that the UN Secretary-General embarked on three years ago, will complement national priority areas, support the country to recover better from COVID-19 pandemic and contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Noting the Cooperation Framework adopts a human rights-based approach with gender equality, accountability and sustainability as the bedrock for sustainable human development, UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Maria Ribeiro said, “the UN Country Team with its partners will support Zimbabwe to ‘build forward better’ from the COVID-19 pandemic and address multidimensional causes of poverty, inequalities, and reduce vulnerabilities.” The high-level consultation meeting also discussed how to strengthen partnerships between the Government of Zimbabwe and the UN Team in the areas of development coordination, results reporting, resource leveraging, communications and advocacy as well as monitoring and evaluation for evidence- based decision making. END Media Contact: Anderson Chiraya, Office of the President and Cabinet, e-mail: chiraya.anderson@gmail.com, Mobile +263 712 323 859 Sirak Gebrehiwot, UN Communications Specialist, e-mail: sirak.gebrehiwot@one.un.org, Mobile +263 772 198 036

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