The humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe exacerbated in 2008 with the collapse in economic activity and public service provisions. Hyperinflation and significant deterioration in the business investment climate raised poverty and unemployment to catastrophic levels, leaving about 70 percent of the population of Zimbabwe in urgent need of food assistance. In addition, since August 2008, the country has been affected by a nationwide cholera outbreak.

The year 2008 was characterised by political uncertainties due to the two successive contested elections in March and June which resulted in a political impasse. This crippled the government’s capacity to respond the deteriorating socio- economic crisis. Political dialogue led to the formation of a new Inclusive Government in September 2008 that came into office in February 2009. This national development provides new opportunities for the UNDP Country Office to support the new government in reintegrating communities into the economy and restoring livelihoods and the quality of life, in the scaling up of disaster prevention and management activities, in capacity development and in peace-building initiatives.

National Priorities

The new government of Zimbabwe seeks UNDP support in the following priority areas:

- Technical Assistance in the Area of Aid Management and Aid Effectiveness
- Institutional Capacity Needs Assessment
- Restoration of Basic Freedoms
- Electoral Support
- Constitution Making Process
- Resolution of Residual Issues related to Land
- Early Recovery
- Establishment of National Economic Council

UNDP Focus

UNDP Zimbabwe’s interventions will incorporate and support the above 8 priorities.  At this critical stage in Zimbabwe’s recovery, the UNDP Country office will support the design of short to medium term macroeconomic stabilization strategies. These strategies will facilitate the development of effective policies towards poverty alleviation, increased opportunities for decent employment and implementing community recovery projects in selected vulnerable districts. Towards this end, UNDP will support dialogue around recovery, strengthen the Resident Coordinator’s humanitarian coordination role as well as inject expert knowledge from its international pool. It is imperative to shift emphasis from relief to recovery by building capacity at community, local and national levels in order to rebuild livelihoods and ensure sustainable development.

Current Interventions

Under the Community Recovery and Rehabilitation Project, UNDP Zimbabwe will support the government of Zimbabwe in the following activities:

i. Recovery and Rehabilitation at Community Level
- Strengthening locally led early recovery in Zimbabwe
- Assistance to Underprivileged Rural Populations

ii. Strengthening Capacity for the National Response and Management of Cholera

iii. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

*Click on the project links for detailed information