Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
GOVERNMENT, development partners and the private sector have intensified efforts to empower smallholder farmers to become resilient against climate change through the validation of the US$9,4 million Resilient Agriculture Cluster Project (RACP).
This followed two weeks of intensive engagements in participating provinces.
The project is a pioneering initiative supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
It focuses on irrigation rehabilitation, climate – smart farming and rural value – chain expansion, aiming to transform Zimbabwe’s food systems while protecting vulnerable farming communities from floods, droughts and other climate risks.
Speaking on behalf of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, business development, markets and trade chief director, Mr Clement Bwenje, said stakeholders were seeking to explore concrete partnerships and opportunities for co-financing and complementarity and strengthening national ownership by aligning RACP closely with existing policies, strategies and ongoing programmes.
“Our partnership with AfDB and IFAD continues on a very positive trajectory, as testified by the coming in of RACP, which is an extension to the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project (SACP),” he said.
“We decided to continue with the model that has proven successful and adding other layers.”
Projects enjoying these partnerships are Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project (ZEFPP), Zimbabwe Agriculture Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project, Horticulture Enterprise Enhancement Project (HEEP) and SACP.
The Agricultural Conflict Resolution and Enhanced Sustainable Livelihoods Project (ACRESLP), RACP and IFAD 13 are under negotiations.
IFAD country director, Zimbabwe and Eswatini, Mr Francesco Rispoli, said the organisation’s mandate was meant to invest in rural people, especially smallholder farmers, so that they increase their productivity, strengthen resilience to climate change and improve livelihoods.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat for Zimbabwe; it is a daily reality. Increasing températures, recurrent drought, mid-season dry spells and floods continue to erode productivity and threaten food and nutrition security,” he said.
Mr Rispoli said RACP supported through AfDB’s climate action window came at a crucial moment as it provided practical, scalable solutions to strengthen climate change.
“RACP will deepen and expand gains by climate-proofing infrastructure developed under SACP, enhance farmers’ access to climate technologies, support water harvesting, strengthen market links, promote financial tools and extend adaptation benefits to additional communities,” he said.
AfDB country director, Ms Belinda Murinye, commended the innovative partnership between her organisation and IFAD that has improved support to the country to address the negative impacts of climate change on the economy and improve livelihoods.
“The AfDB set up a dedicated Climate Action Window (CAW) as part of ADF 16 cycle to tackle the impacts of climate change,” she said.
“IFAD assisted Zimbabwe to develop a concept note on RACP and responded to the first Call for Proposals on the Adaptation Sub-Window.”
Ms Murinye said a US$9,4 million grant was approved to co-finance the ongoing IFAD-funded SACP by reducing fragility, strengthening climate resilience, nutrition outcomes and institutional capacity in climate-vulnerable rural areas.
“Colleagues, we are here to validate the RACP design in readiness for board presentation in March 2026,” she said.
