WFP receives US$2m to assist urban dwellers

Tanaka Mahanya

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated US$2 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support 2 100 vulnerable families in three urban areas of Zimbabwe.

The beneficiaries will receive assistance over the next year and communities will benefit from communal assets such as greenhouses and income-generation activities.

WFP country direct, Francesca Erdelmann, said the scheme would also focus on digital and vocational skills development training for young people.

The programme aims to improve the savings capacity of city dwellers, with a specific focus on vulnerable groups, such as women and disabled people, as well as to reduce negative coping strategies and the need for urgent assistance.

“We are humbled and honoured for the assistance that USAID is extending to the urban poor, following tumultuous years marked by Covid-19, climatic shocks, and food and fuel price hikes.

“Zimbabwean cities are growing and face the challenge to provide decent livelihoods for their dwellers.

“We are promoting equitable management of shared resources in urban areas, through the establishment of communal assets that improve social cohesion within urban communities,” she said.

USAID acting deputy director of mission, Priscilla Sampil, said many urban households are slipping into poverty.

“The programme will improve the ability of targeted urban households to meet their basic food and nutrition needs, while reducing negative coping strategies, and the need for urgent assistance.

“Communities will boost their financial literacy skills, through training and youths will have the opportunity to participate in digital and vocational skills development,” she said.