Providing relief while supporting development in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, the local population has experienced a turbulent decade of economic collapse, disintegrating public services, food and fuel scarcity, and public health emergencies. ACTED in Zimbabwe focused on providing relief aid to vulnerable individuals while supporting the local economy. In partnership with Concern and CAFOD and with financial support from the French government, ACTED Zimbabwe piloted a Purchase for Progress program with the aim of purchasing cereals from local farmers and then redistribute the locally purchased cereals to vulnerable individuals in the same locality. The program not only supported vulnerable individuals but also injected much needed cash into the local economy and encouraged farmers to increase their agricultural production.

Purchasing for progress

ACTED Zimbabwe worked in partnership with Concern Worldwide to purchase 681.45 metric tons of maize cereals from small-scale farmers in Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts. The aim of the project was to encourage agricultural production while injecting cash into the local economy. The purchased cereals were then distributed to vulnerable food-insecure households, in the same localities. The farmers were then able to use the cash they received to pay schools fees and purchase agricultural inputs, household commodities and other goods. This pilot project demonstrated the positive effect leveraging food purchases can have when international actors purchase food for distribution from local farmers and producers. In essence, purchasing for progress enabled ACTED to support vulnerable populations while simultaneously encouraging long-term development and recovery.

Providing relief to the most vulnerable

Much of rural Zimbabwe is acutely vulnerable to hunger and is food insecure. In response, ACTED supported vulnerable populations with distributions of maize cereals aimed at improving vulnerable populations safety nets. Working in partnership with the Catholic Overseas Development Agency (CAFOD) and Caritas, ACTED distributed 681.45 metric tons of cereal grains to vulnerable households in Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts. Beneficiaries were selected through a community driven process, in which communities helped identify those most at risk in their own communities, and grain was subsequently distributed during the ‘hungry months’ (July through September), in which beneficiaries were most likely to be insecure.

Building local partnerships

ACTED keeps a limited presence in Zimbabwe and continues to explore possibilities to develop partnerships with other organizations to support food security initiatives aimed at providing relief, while supporting the long-term development and recovery of the agricultural sector.