Supporting practical, long-term solutions to drought and food shortages.

Primary Media
Farmers work together in a field in Zimbabwe
Credit: Zimbabwe Council of Churches
Published On: October 4, 2024
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In Zimbabwe, severe drought and food shortages continue to take a toll on communities, but the Zimbabwe Council of Churches is leading efforts to provide support. In partnership with Mission and Service and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the Scaling Up Resilience Project focuses on practical, long-term solutions. By emphasizing climate-smart farming, gender equality, and community-driven initiatives, the project is helping families strengthen their resilience and work towards a more secure future.

The challenges facing Zimbabwe are immense, with frequent droughts, unpredictable rains, tropical cyclones, economic instability, and outbreaks of diseases like cholera all contributing to severe food insecurity. In the Bikita and Gutu districts, up to 60% of people are affected, with many families struggling to put food on the table, send their children to school, and are at risk of gender-based violence. Crop failures, especially due to El Niño, have worsened conditions, leaving communities in urgent need of solutions.

The Scaling Up Resilience Program addresses these issues by building on the success of previous humanitarian efforts. It will provide training in gender-sensitive, climate-smart agriculture, strengthen disaster risk management systems, and revive essential community assets, such as water conservation works and irrigation schemes. By promoting gender equality, supporting financial resilience through savings and loans programs, and ensuring that all community members, including the elderly and those with disabilities, are included, the project is creating a brighter future for thousands of people.

Your gifts through Mission and Service have provided crucial support to partners like the Zimbabwe Council of Churches as they work toward a secure and sustainable future. Your continued support is deeply appreciated.