Charles Duri
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ZIMBABWE has been listed among 22 high-risk countries vulnerable to anticipated El Niño-induced climate shocks, as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a US$202 million global appeal to protect millions of people before disasters strike.
The Joint Anticipatory Action Appeal, launched in Rome on today, aims to support nearly 8.8 million people across vulnerable regions through early interventions ahead of forecast extreme weather linked to El Niño.
According to WFP and FAO, the initiative targets 22 priority countries, including Zimbabwe, and is designed to shift humanitarian response from reactive measures to early action based on climate forecasts.
Announcing the initiative, WFP said the appeal seeks funding to “protect nearly nine million people from the potential impact of a strong El Niño weather pattern across 22 high-risk priority countries,” adding that scaling up anticipatory action would help “safeguard lives, livelihoods and food security.”
In Zimbabwe, the development was echoed by the WFP country office, which noted that the country is among those most at risk from the expected climate shocks that could affect food security and livelihoods this year and next.
The appeal marks the first time the two UN agencies have jointly launched a global anticipatory action initiative of this scale, reflecting a growing shift towards acting before disasters occur rather than responding after they unfold.
WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau warned that the window to act is limited.
“We cannot afford the fallout of another food crisis. With El Niño on the horizon, we have a narrow window to act so families are not forced into impossible choices later,” he said.
He added that anticipatory action helps keep food on the table and protects those most at risk, while enabling faster and more cost-effective responses.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol said early action has consistently proven to be more effective and less costly than post-crisis interventions, stressing the need for financing to be made available before crisis thresholds are reached.
WFP and FAO said El Niño conditions forecast for 2026 could trigger both drought and flooding across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, disrupting planting seasons, harvests, pasture conditions and water availability.
They warned that millions of people are already facing acute food insecurity driven by conflict, economic instability and recurring climate shocks, making early intervention critical.
Zimbabwe’s inclusion among the priority countries highlights its continued vulnerability to climate variability, particularly droughts and floods that have repeatedly affected agricultural production and rural livelihoods.
The appeal will fund a range of interventions, including cash assistance, provision of drought-tolerant and flood-resistant seeds, livestock protection, water harvesting systems, flood mitigation infrastructure and early warning systems.
The agencies said such measures are aimed at helping households protect livelihoods, stabilise food consumption and reduce long-term recovery costs.
The announcement comes as Southern Africa continues to face heightened climate risks following previous El Niño-related droughts that severely affected crop yields, livestock production and water supplies.
WFP and FAO said they are already positioned to support about 1.2 million people under existing anticipatory action frameworks, with plans to scale up to 8.8 million if additional funding is secured.
ENDS_
Online Reporter