Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE Government has urged local communities to develop tailored solutions and leverage partnerships with stakeholders, including government agencies, to mitigate the effects of climate change.
This comes at a time when the country is still battling the effects of climate change, including the El Niño-induced drought, the worst in 40 years.
Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu made the call on Wednesday at the Utariri Day Celebration, highlighting the transformative work of the Swedish-funded Utariri-Integrated Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Livelihoods Programme.
“The reality is that Adaptation needs and vulnerabilities are locally specific. It is our communities and actors on the ground that are best placed to identify and implement the interventions needed to respond to their climate vulnerabilities,” she said.
“The localisation of climate action is of critical importance if these actions are to be locally relevant and have greater stakeholder buy-in.
“This includes strengthening of their direct access to climate finance for us to realise the rewards of the ‘principles of locally led adaptation’ developed in 2021 and increasingly being viewed as best practice for designing and funding adaptation interventions at the local level”.
The celebrations follow the successful implementation of sustainability projects in the mid-Zambezi Valley.
The Swedish-funded Utariri, Biodiversity, Climate Change and Livelihoods Programme, was established in 2022 to accelerate climate adaptation, diversifying livelihoods and income options, improving biodiversity management, and reducing extractive activities through community stewardship in Nyaminyami, Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani.
Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Per Lingarde said: “For us today, this Utariri Day is indeed an occasion to celebrate.
“Sincere thanks to each of you who has been part of this journey in promoting the value of natural resources, enhancing the protection of vital ecosystems and strengthening the resilience of communities in the Zambezi Valley.
“We look forward to celebrating more Utariri Days together, and to continuing the work of protecting both people and the planet in response to climate change.”
Utariri Programme Leader, Ms Keitometsi Ncube, said: “In delivering on the Utariri Programme we as a team have always been conscious that our job is to enhance ecosystem resilience, to sustain both biodiversity and human livelihoods.
“To be effective, such implementation hinges on collaboration across stakeholders from local communities to policymakers, engaging local populations integrating traditional ecological knowledge and practices to foster ownership and stewardship of natural resources ALL in support of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).”
