KAROI, Apr. 24 (NewsDay Live) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says its Zimbabwe interventions reached 3.7 million people in 2025, improving access to medicines, water and climate-resilient livelihoods.
UNDP Resident Representative Ayodele Odusola said the impact is “visible in people’s daily lives” across health, energy, agriculture and justice.
“For us, these are not just statistics. They represent real change,” he said.
Health and energy
Over 1,200 health facilities were solar-powered, improving cold chains, maternity care and lab services. A new medical warehouse expanded storage by 448%, cut delivery times by 60% and reduced stockout-related emergency orders by 75%. ART coverage remained above 93% nationwide.
Climate and agriculture
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UNDP supported 838 hectares of climate-proofed irrigation and reached 2.6 million people with weather advisories. Nineteen schemes were upgraded and 12,330 hectares protected from wildfires.
At Gororo Irrigation Scheme, 72 families harvested over 68 tonnes of crops across three cycles, earning more than US$64,000 and accessing three export markets.
Water, women and justice
Piped water access improved for 1,368 households, while eight Village Business Units were set up.
Nearly 600 savings groups backed women’s enterprises. In Mberengwa, 440 women miners were mobilised, with a solar facility set to save US$30,000 annually.
Thirteen Mobile One-Stop Centres reached 8,500 people across four provinces, resolving 51 cases, with women making up 69% of beneficiaries.
UNDP programmes also generated 18MW of renewable energy and avoided 204 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Odusola said the results align with Zimbabwe’s priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, adding impact is strongest when “locally anchored and jointly owned.”