Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, is impressed with progress made towards the implementation of the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (CRL) programme across the country.
The CRL Project works with Government, private sector and communities to climate-proof irrigation, scale farmer field schools and innovation platforms, strengthen inclusive governance, and deliver actionable climate information—helping smallholders secure food, incomes and resilience in the face of climate change.
The initiative is being funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and has projects running in Manicaland, Masvingo, and Matabeleland South—advancing climate-smart agriculture, inclusive irrigation governance, and last-mile climate information services.
In a statement, the UNDP Zimbabwe said more than 20,700 farmers—predominantly women—participated in Open Learning Days from 3–10 August, gaining hands-on skills in soil and water conservation, post-harvest management, fodder preservation, and climate-informed decision-making.
The organisation said it had also enlisted the services of community radios to amplify these lessons to wider audiences.
“Irrigation rehabilitation progressed across multiple schemes, with completions and near-completions recorded at Mhakwe, Musirizwi, Vimbanai, Farai irrigation projects and others,” said UNDP Zimbabwe.
“At Nyahombe, farmers signed a contract to grow Michigan pea beans on 100ha. In addition, private-sector dialogues linking 16 irrigation schemes to buyers, banks and input suppliers yielded concrete deals—including 264ha of pea-bean contracts and commitments on seed discounts, doorstep agro-inputs, and affordable group insurance”.
The UNDP said it had completed two major assessments on the annual Post-Treatment Assessment (2,060 household surveys) and a PICSA implementation review spanning 12 districts with 1,085 households—strengthening the evidence base for outcomes and farmer decision-making.
Additionally, the Government partners have also concluded a three-day GIS training (QField + QGIS), enhancing spatial planning, monitoring and reporting across the programme.
The organisation said the beneficiary selection at Farai, Musirizwi and Rusununguko irrigation projects followed clear guidelines to prevent elite capture and ensure equitable access.
“At Rusununguko, 126 farmers each received 0.5-ha plots and women’s leadership in Irrigation Management Committees reached 61%, surpassing the project target, with participants reporting stronger confidence and decision-making. Safeguards refresher training on gender mainstreaming and PSEAH strengthened partner capacities,” said the UNDP Zimbabwe.
“To reach farmers with timely, localised advisories, the project expanded a multi-channel hydromet strategy: five community-radio episodes aired across seven stations (with ZBC National FM reach), advisories are translated into local languages, and a new bulk-SMS platform now pushes seasonal and 10-day forecast updates.
“A PICSA refresher for 108 extension officers sharpened forecast interpretation and advisory co-production with farmers”.
Government and the UNDP mission carried a joint monitoring and evaluation process between September 1 and 6 where they observed strong progress at irrigation schemes and Innovation Platforms.
They also noted the need to keep strengthening inputs, mechanisation, power connections among other things to sustain gains.
“These dialogues are a vital step in connecting farmers with buyers, banks, and input suppliers, linking production with markets ensures farmers can sustainably increase yields, incomes, and resilience,” said Mr Rungano Benza, CRL Project Manager.
Bongani Ndlovu