French Embassy funds project to combat hunger and malnutrition in Zimbabwe

Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe - Communities in Masvingo and Mwenezi districts continue to face persistent nutrition and agricultural challenges, driven largely by erratic rainfall, limited access to diverse foods, and climate-induced shocks, like the recent El Nino induced drought. In these districts, high levels of food insecurity and child malnutrition - reflected in national stunting rates of 26.1% among children under five underscore the urgent need for integrated and sustainable responses.

A new initiative is set to bring renewed hope to these rural communities. The "Nourish and Thrive: Inclusive and Sustainable Nutrition and Livelihoods Initiative," funded by the Government of France and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and World Vision, aims to address these challenges with urgency and innovation.

At the district-level community sensitization meetings held recently in Mwenezi and Masvingo, key stakeholders including government officials, agricultural extension officers, and health representatives welcomed the project’s objectives. In Mwenezi, the District Development Coordinator noted the importance of scaling up the intervention for communities in Ward 2 , which includes families relocated after the Tokwe-Mukosi floods. “This is one of the areas most affected by low agricultural productivity and undernutrition. We appreciate the focus on sustainable food production and household nutrition,” Isaac Mutambara said.

A multi-sectoral, nutrition-sensitive approach

The Nourish and Thrive project is designed around three core objectives: preventing child wasting and improving nutrition outcomes, enhancing household food security, and strengthening community capacities in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

To achieve these goals, the project will support:

• 4000 households with agricultural input packages, including drought-tolerant seeds (such as white sorghum and pearl millet), horticulture seeds, fertilizers, and small tools.
• 1000 children under two years of age through targeted cash transfers to improve access to nutritious food.
• Capacity building for community-based extension workers and village health workers through training in climate-smart agriculture and Health Harvest, Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), and Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM).
• Conduct screening for children under 5 years for early identification of acute malnutrition and conduct referral of malnourished children.

James Mugombi, FAO's Nourish and Thrive project coordinator emphasized the importance of selecting appropriate crops for the local climate. "The project will promote seeds that are suitable to the climatic conditions of the area, like millet varieties," he explained. "Seeds for nutrition gardens will be accessed by already existing and active community gardens for sustainability and assured production."

Village Health Workers and agricultural extension officers will receive refresher training in the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and nutrition-sensitive farming practices to ensure the sustainability of the intervention.

Improving nutrition and building resilience

A core focus of the project is to improve access to and consumption of nutritious foods at the household level. This will be achieved through strengthening Care Groups and promoting Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices for children under two years of age.

“We aim to empower communities with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their nutrition and the well-being of their children,” explained Handrea Njovo, Deputy Director - Health in the Ministry of Health and Childcare.

The project will strengthen local Care Groups that promote maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices. It will also promote food safety and hygiene through community awareness and education initiatives.

These interventions contribute directly to Zimbabwe’s national nutrition strategy and are aligned with FAO’s Strategic Framework – Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and a Better Life – as well as national and global goals including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).

As implementation moves forward, the focus will be on coordinated delivery, including registration of beneficiaries, engagement with agro-dealers and money transfer agencies, and the rollout of input and cash support.

Looking Ahead

By combining nutrition, agriculture, and community empowerment, the Nourish and Thrive project offers a pathway to greater resilience for households in Masvingo and Mwenezi districts. Through strong collaboration among partners and communities, the initiative aims to contribute meaningfully to the well-being and development of vulnerable populations in southern Zimbabwe.

“This project is about restoring dignity, it’s about ensuring that even in the harshest climates, our communities can nourish and thrive,” concluded Nester Gumbo, Deputy Director - Training and Information Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and focal person for the Nourish and Thrive project in the ministry.