HARARE’S urban poor are on the frontlines of climate change, facing repeated cycles of deadly floods and waterborne disease outbreaks.
But one community organisation is leading innovative, locally-driven efforts to build resilience.
“When the rains come, we brace for the worst,” says Chris Gohori, programmes manager at the Community Water Alliance (CWA).
“Entire neighbourhoods can get submerged, forcing people to flee their homes.
“But through early warning systems and rapid emergency response, we’re saving lives and preventing outbreaks.”
CWA operates across a continuum, integrating flood anticipation, WASH [water, sanitation and hygiene response, and long-term climate adaptation.
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In high-risk areas like Kuwadzana and Epworth, the organisation has trained a network of 80 community volunteers to monitor water levels and trigger pre-emptive action.
In addition, community trainings have included household water treatment, handwashing and safe storage.
The programme has also deployed hygiene and water safety kits to 375 households per targeted area and reached 1 500 families in total.
To bolster public health, 60 health workers across Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Epworth have been trained in cholera case management and disease surveillance.
CWA has also engaged 20 000 people through door-to-door sessions and community roadshows, delivering critical messaging on safe water treatment and storage.
“As soon as we get an alert, our teams spring into action,” explains Hardlife Mudzingwa, CWA’s executive director.
“We conduct rapid needs assessments, distribute water purification tablets and safe storage containers, and launch hygiene campaigns before the floodwaters even arrive.”
This approach has had tangible impacts.
During a recent Kuwadzana flood, no major cholera spike was recorded in the targeted area, a stark contrast to past outbreaks that devastated informal settlements.
“The door-to-door campaigns made all the difference,” says Patience Mutema, a community health volunteer.
“We reached 1 500 households with lifesaving information on handwashing and water treatment. When the floods recede, families are prepared.”
Beyond emergencies, CWA is tackling the root causes of urban vulnerability through innovative WASH programming.
In peri-urban Epworth, they are promoting household water treatment and sanitation behaviour change, empowering 60 women-led health workers.
“Women are the backbone of our communities,” Mutema said.
“By training female volunteers, we ensure hygiene messages reach every household.”
The organisation’s rural interventions in Buhera district showcase a different facet of climate resilience.
Here, CWA is supporting smallholder farmers with solar-powered irrigation and organic fertiliser production, enabling year-round agriculture in the face of erratic rainfall.
“Drip irrigation has transformed our lives,” beams Eunice Mashiri, a local farmer.
“I can now grow vegetables throughout the year and earn my own income.
“We’ve gone from struggling to feed our families to having a thriving business.”
The fertiliser, produced through a sustainable Black Soldier Fly and vermicomposting system, also reduces reliance on costly and environmentally-damaging chemical inputs.
This circular model is now being replicated in Harare's high-density suburbs, where CWA has established 10 community-owned waste recycling centres.
“Linking waste to agriculture is a game-changer,” enthuses Mudzingwa.
“It tackles multiple challenges at once — waste management, soil fertility and livelihoods.
“The youth are particularly excited about these green and sustainable enterprises.”
These integrated, community-driven solutions are garnering attention from policymakers.
CWA actively engages local authorities on issues ranging from wetland protection to urban drainage improvements — priorities that require sustained government investment.
“We can’t do this alone,” admits Gohori.
“Flexible, long-term financing is crucial to scaling up climate-resilient infrastructure.
But we’ve demonstrated the impact of community-led action and we’re determined to keep pushing for change.”
This ethos of local ownership underpins CWA’s work.
Whether it’s women-led irrigation committees or youth-run and women-led waste recycling co-operatives, the organisation prioritises inclusive governance structures that ensure marginalised groups have a voice.
“Development has to be community-driven, not top-down,” affirms Mudzingwa.
“When people have a stake in the solutions, they’ll protect and maintain them for the long-term.”
“CWA’s community-driven model is a game-changer for building climate resilience,” says Tendai Marowa, public health expert.
“By empowering local networks and integrating early action, they’re breaking the cycle of flooding and waterborne disease outbreaks in Harare’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods.”
As Zimbabwe grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, CWA’s multifaceted model offers a blueprint for building resilience from the ground up.
Through a judicious blend of emergency response, sustainable infrastructure and community empowerment, they are flood-proofing the country’s most vulnerable settlements.
“Our work is far from over,” Gohori acknowledged.
“But seeing families prepared, businesses thriving and communities taking charge — that’s what keeps us going.
“This is about more than just WASH or agriculture; it’s about transforming power dynamics and creating a resilient future.”