Action on Climate Change - Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe the Netherlands Embassy is funding the efforts of three local civil society partners promoting climate-smart agriculture and improved natural resource management to build resilience within rural communities.
The Embassy is also working to reduce emissions from our day to day work. All of our buildings are fully powered by solar energy, and our gardens employ organic and water-wise approaches. At the Embassy we have also installed rainwater harvesting infrastructure to reduce our use of ground and municipal water.
Our Partnerships in Zimbabwe
My Trees Trust: Environment and Climate Action Education Campaign
July 2024 – February 2025
Magunje, Deve, Chundu
This is the second project between the Embassy and My Trees Trust following an initial grant and successful implementation of a similar project from 2022 – 2023. My Trees Trust is a restoration and conservation NGO with 30 tree nurseries across Zimbabwe and a successful model for reforestation using financial incentives for small scale farmers to plant and maintain indigenous trees.
With support from the Netherlands, My Trees developed a customised climate change and environmental conservation curriculum for subsistence farmers living in the semi-arid regions where My Trees is active. This 5-day training explores climate change and its impacts, the fundamentals of protecting the ecosystems in which the farmers live including the water cycle, approaches to community based natural resource management, and much more. Trainers are drawn from the communities and given in-depth coaching to deliver the course, giving them employment and ensuring the knowledge remains available in future. The project is also providing the farmers with the 5-day Foundations for Farming training in conservation agriculture, teaching tried and tested approaches that greatly increase yields. In 2023, 360 subsistence farmers received the 10 days of training. In 2024 an additional 300 will benefit.
Participatory Organic Research Extension and
Training (PORET): Scaling up climate action with youth through water harvesting and agroecology in the Chimanimani District
July 2023 – June 2024
Mhandarume, Chakohwa, and Rupise Wards - Chimanimani
The PORET centre is the home of permaculture in the lowveld area of Chimanimani, having a footprint in 39 nearby villages. With support from the Embassy, PORET is training 160 local youth in water harvesting and permaculture, and enabling them to map out 6 nearby villages and plan substantial water harvesting infrastructure. The participants will then be given a stipend to implement the plans in coordination with the communities. The hard work of digging pits and swales, and building dams in the right places will improve water retention and reduce soil erosion in these semi-arid areas that receive just 400mm of rainfall annually. From running village meetings, to co-creating village masterplans, the process will be led by youth committees with support from the PORET staff and village leaders. This project extends our partnership following successful rollout of a similar activity in 2022-2023
Birdlife Zimbabwe: Improving RAMSAR wetland protection
July 2024 – June 2025
Harare and Victoria Falls
Despite their critical role in the water cycle, wetlands in Zimbabwe remain under pressure from inappropriate development, agriculture, and mining. This includes those protected by the Ramsar convention, which Zimbabwe has ratified.
Experience has shown that civil society and wetland-adjacent communities have an important role to play in protecting these vital areas. Birdlife Zimbabwe has been a long-standing champion of wetlands across the country and will use the grant from the Netherlands Embassy to engage with the public, media, community groups and policymakers on the issue. They will support the establishment and build the capacity of committees in communities near Ramsar wetland sites to respond to threats and help them manage these ecologically sensitive areas. Critically, in 2025, Zimbabwe will host Ramsar COP15 in Victoria Falls. A key part of this project is appraising and preparing civil society organisations and environmental stewards for successful participation at this major international event.