UNDP helps countries strengthen their capacity to address energy and environment challenges at global, national and community levels by seeking out and sharing best practices, providing innovative policy advice and linking partners through programmes that help poor people build sustainable livelihoods.

In Zimbabwe about 70% of the population lives in rural areas where they exploit natural resources including water bodies for food, fuel and other basic needs. Such exploitation leads to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and contribute to global climate change.
 
UNDP's work on Energy and Environment is focused on six priority areas:

- Frameworks and strategies for sustainable development
- Effective water governance
- Access to sustainable energy services
- Sustainable land management to combat desertification and land degradation
- Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
- National/sectoral policy and planning to control emissions of ODS and POPs

National Priorities

The national priority focuses on reduction of extreme poverty through improved agricultural production and productivity, food and nutrition security at household levels, increased environmental awareness and sustainable use and management of natural resources and improved rural livelihoods.
The issues of environmental degradation, lack of access to clean and affordable energy services, global climate change, loss of biodiversity and ozone layer depletion cannot be addressed by Zimbabwe alone. UNDP is working with Government of Zimbabwe and other partners to address these issues.
The UNDP Zimbabwe country office is strongly involved in the energy, environment, land and water sectors.

UNDP Zimbabwe Current Interventions 

UNDP is working with the Government of Zimbabwe in the following areas:

- Phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in the Solvent/Sterilant Sector
- Coping with Drought and Climate Change
- Energy and Environment

Challenges/lessons learnt:

1. Capacity of national institutions to address the environmental, disaster management and community recovery challenges is limited due to brain drain and impact of HIV and AIDS.
2. Sustainable policy reforms on land, agriculture and environment should be informed through participatory approach based on experiences gained from the grassroots levels.
3. Sustainable agriculture production and sound environmental management is possible through dialogue on resolution of the outstanding land issues.

*Click on project links below for detailed information