French-funded Nourish and Thrive project to boost food security and nutrition in Zimbabwe using FAO's IDEA Platform

In an effort to combat food insecurity and malnutrition in Zimbabwe, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Vision, and the Government of Zimbabwe have partnered to implement the Nourish and Thrive Project, funded by the French government. 

The project aims to register and profile 4000 vulnerable households in Masvingo and Mwenezi districts, providing them with agricultural input packages, cash transfers, and capacity building initiatives. “These households will receive vouchers to access essential agricultural inputs, including drought-tolerant traditional grains like sorghum, fertilizers, and small farming tools. In addition 1000 children under two will be targeted for cash transfers to improve access to nutritious food, promoting early childhood health and development,” said Nourish and Thrive Project Coordinator James Mugombi.

The FAO's Identification, Delivery and Empowerment Application (IDEA) platform will be utilized to streamline the registration process, ensure secure data management, and facilitate assistance delivery. The IDEA platform is a digital ecosystem of applications designed to protect and manage beneficiary data, deliver assistance, and distribute aid using cash and voucher modalities. IDEA facilitates secure beneficiary registration, identity verification, entitlements delivery and tracking, data reporting, and visualization. The system consists of various modules, including IDEA Registration, Biometrics, Distribution, Web, Contactless, and Reports.

"The IDEA platform will play a crucial role in the Nourish and Thrive Project. By using contactless cards and biometric verification, we can ensure that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries efficiently and transparently. This project will not only improve food security but also empower communities by providing them with the knowledge and tools to adapt to climate change and enhance their livelihoods," said FAO Monitoring and Evaluation Supervisor in Zimbabwe, Tendai Mugara. “For beneficiaries, the system also provides reassurance that their identities and entitlements are protected,” he added.

World Vision's, Design Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator- Health, Tinashe Marange, emphasized the importance of the project in addressing malnutrition: "Through the Nourish and Thrive Project, we aim to improve the nutritional status of children under two years of age in the targeted households. Strengthening nutrition surveillance will improve early detection and treatment of children with malnutrition thus improving the health status and wellbeing of our children. Care groups will further increase the knowledge of caregivers on locally available nutritious foods that make up a four star diet."

"By providing cash transfers, we can help families access nutritious food, while capacity building initiatives for village health workers will further strengthen their ability to screen and refer malnutrition cases to a facility and training of community-based extension workers will promote climate-smart agriculture practices," she added.

The Zimbabwean Government, through its Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, will actively participate in the project by registering and profiling beneficiaries. Chengetai Nyamunda the project lead from the ministry, stated: "We are committed to working closely with our partners to ensure the success of the Nourish and Thrive Project. By leveraging the IDEA platform, we can enhance our data management capabilities, improve targeting, and promote transparency and accountability in the delivery of assistance."

Training sessions are currently underway for stakeholders in Masvingo and Mwenezi districts to ensure they are well-equipped to use the IDEA system effectively. The project targets 4000 households to receive agricultural input packages, including drought-tolerant seeds, fertilizers, and small tools, while 1000 children under two years of age will benefit from targeted cash transfers to improve access to nutritious food.

Empowering Communities with Skills and Knowledge

In addition to distributing inputs and financial support, capacity building is a major focus of the Nourish and Thrive project. Local extension workers and village health workers are receiving training in climate-smart agriculture, maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCAN), and the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM).

“We are not just handing out inputs - we are investing in people,” said Golden Mapanga, Chief Social Development officer Masvingo Province, in the Ministry of Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. “By training local frontline workers, we are equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to sustain themselves long after this project ends,” he added.

This integrated approach is aligned with the broader vision of the Government of Zimbabwe and FAO to build resilient, self-reliant communities, especially in the face of climate change and recurrent food insecurity.

Looking Ahead

As the IDEA platform is rolled out across the two districts, the partners are confident in the long-term impact of the project. Real-time dashboards, created through the IDEA Reports module, will allow for transparent monitoring, donor reporting, and data-driven decision-making that can be fed back to communities.

“This partnership represents a new standard in how we deliver humanitarian and development assistance, It’s efficient, inclusive, and most importantly, designed to leave no one behind,” said Tendai Mugara.