Zimbabwe El Nino Response 2024


Zimbabwe’s 2023/24 agricultural season was hit by a severe El Nino induced drought, leading to wide-spread food insecurity. This initiative contributes to life-saving assistance to meet emergency needs of families affected by the drought. With Switzerland’s contribution, World Vision aims to deliver targeted cash transfers and protection support to 13’100 households during the lean hunger season until the next harvest.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Zimbabwe
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
nothemedefined
Emergency food assistance
01.08.2024 - 31.07.2025
CHF  2’500’000
Background

Zimbabwe is facing a severe food insecurity crisis due to poor rainfall in the 2023/24 agricultural season, caused by a strong El Nino event. The drought has drastically reduced agricultural output, increasing food prices and economic strain. Zimbabwe's economic challenges, including high inflation, exacerbate food insecurity. As a result, an estimated 6 million people (almost 40% of the population) are food insecure. The government declared the drought a national disaster and appealed for international aid.

Crisis-level food insecurity is expected in several provinces up until the end of the lean season in March/April 2025. In urban areas, 35% of the population face serious food insecurity. Epworth, a poor suburb of Harare, is particularly affected, and many households are already using various coping strategies to manage food shortages. Mudzi district, located in the rural north-east of the country, suffers from chronic food insecurity, with 48% of households affected, which makes it particularly vulnerable to the drought.

Objectives Life-saving assistance delivered to meet emergency food and protection needs of vulnerable households affected by the El Nino induced drought, with focus on Epworth and Mudzi district.
Target groups

Direct beneficiaries: 13’100 participating families that receive cash assistance and protection services.

Indirect beneficiaries include the project staff, service providers, and district stakeholders that will also participate in the sensitization events.

Medium-term outcomes
  1. Improved access to safety nets for the drought affected people
  2. Improved support services on Gender Based Violence and protection of children and adults affected by crisis
Results

Expected results:  

  • 13’100 severely food insecure households from targeted districts receive cash assistance to meet basic food requirements from August 2024 to April 2025
  • Accountability mechanisms for people receiving assistance are enhanced
  • Project staff, services providers and project stakeholders are capacitated on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
  • Support affected women and children to access services and knowledge on child protection, gender-based violence to protect them against sexual exploitation and abuse


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
  • Foreign private sector South/East
  • World Vision Zimbabwe


Coordination with other projects and actors Coordination with other humanitarian actors active in Zimbabwe, including government at all levels, the World Food Programme, international NGOs grouped under the Zimbabwe Alliance for Humanitarian Action, and donors such as USAID-BHA, FCDO, and the EU.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’972’800 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   2’500’000
Project phases Phase 1 01.08.2024 - 31.07.2025   (Current phase)