In the heart of Hopley, an expansive peri-urban settlement in southern Harare, families survive on tight, unpredictable incomes and the daily pressure to simply “get by” often overshadows the need for proper nutrition.
According to sister-in-charge Chipangura at Tariro Clinic, the facility serves an under-5 population of 43 170. Of these, more than 232 cases of malnutrition were treated in 2025, a figure that highlights the deep and persistent nutrition challenge facing families in Hopley.
The situation becomes even more concerning when compared with data showing that only four percent of children in the community receive a minimum acceptable diet, revealing a critical gap in dietary diversity and quality.
Poor sanitation and overcrowded living conditions further exacerbate the problem, exposing young children to frequent illnesses that diminish their nutritional status and heighten their vulnerability.
Climate change is also intensifying the malnutrition crisis in Hopley.
Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells and recurring heatwaves have reduced household food production and driven up the cost of basic staples. Many families which once relied on small home gardens or affordable market vegetables now struggle to afford nutritious food options such as protein rich foods, fruits and vegetables.
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They also have little time to prepare balanced meals, as they frequently juggle informal jobs, childcare and long commutes. In such instances, cheaper snacks that provide very little nutritional value for children become daily meals for many children.
Responding to these challenges, the Climate Action for the Last Mile initiative (CALM) was launched in 2025 by the Government of Zimbabwe, in partnership with Unicef and with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, to support communities in four districts across the country by addressing critical challenges such as nutrition insecurity and waterborne diseases — key factors in protecting
children from malnutrition.
Lillian is proud to be contributing to this initiative. As one of 20 volunteer health promoters in Hopley, she is part of Arise and Shine Care Group, a peer-to-peer platform for health education, which promotes good hygiene practices, optimum nutrition standards and community leadership. Her role is to build caregivers' knowledge and capacity to provide better nutritional options for their children.
Lillian, a mother of four and a dedicated health promoter attached to Tariro Clinic, has a firsthand view of residents’ daily nutrition patterns, which contribute to chronic undernutrition among the youngest and most vulnerable.
She explains that a layered approach is used to target the caregivers in the community.
After receiving training from the health promoters at the clinic, she cascades the new knowledge to a group of eight community lead mothers, who are in constant, close contact with mothers in their neighbourhoods.
During the monthly meetings with the lead mothers, Lillian uses illustrated counselling session guides showing the danger signs of malnutrition and cheaper, nutrient-rich meal options that can be easily sourced in the community.
Lilian also gives the caregivers tips on breastfeeding practices and the importance of clean water and hygiene.
“I start with explaining that children should be served a four-star diet, which contains vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats,” says Lillian, as she holds a sample of sorghum meal, peanut butter, eggs and bananas, and explains that these ingredients can be mixed to make a nutritious porridge for children’s breakfast meal.
She further explains. “Good nutrition doesn’t always require a lot of money. Caregivers are also encouraged to grow some of the ingredients
in their back gardens.”
Once the lead mothers grasp these practical lessons, they carry them forward, moving door-to-door in their neighbourhoods, reporting back to Lillian on the progress, challenges, and issues they encounter during home visits. Through this chain of shared wisdom, households learn the best meal options for their children and adopt better habits that support their children’s health, including handwashing with soap.
Beyond Hopley, CALM is supporting communities in 4 districts across the country to address critical issues such as nutrition insecurity and waterborne diseases, which are essential for children to be protected from malnutrition. Unicef nutrition officer, Duduzile Kandengwa, says: “Clinics such as Tariro play a crucial role in identifying and treating malnutrition. Long-term progress in preventing and responding to malnutrition depends on coordinated actions from multiple fronts and care groups are being used as a vehicle to deliver nutrition messages,” she said.
“Under the CALM project, different government departments, community leaders, NGOs, schools and local businesses are, therefore, working hand-in-hand with Lillian and other health promoters to build a solid, holistic community support system to address the underlying drivers of malnutrition.
“Children’s nutrition is shaped by the food they eat, the water they drink, the sanitation in their homes, the care they receive and the stability of the environment around them. This is why Unicef continues to advocate for a multi-sectoral response, which brings together different sectors' work to help to break the cycle of malnutrition in communities like Hopley.”
Thanks to volunteers like Lillian and the lead mothers she supports, families in Hopley are beginning to break a cycle of malnutrition that has persisted for generations.
—Unicef Zimbabwe