ZIMBABWE’S drought-prone rural communities are set to receive a major boost after the African Development Bank Group approved a US$25 million grant aimed at strengthening food security and building climate resilience among vulnerable smallholder farmers.
The funding, approved by the Bank’s board of directors, will support the Zimbabwe Agricultural Climate Resilient and Vulnerability Reduction Project (ACRES), a five-year initiative running from 2026 to 2030.
The project is financed through the Bank’s Transition Support Facility (TSF) Pillar 1.
ACRES will target some of the country’s hardest-hit regions, including Gutu district in Masvingo province and districts in Matabeleland South — namely Gwanda, Matobo, Mangwe and Bulilima.
These areas are characterised by high livestock populations and increasing exposure to erratic and declining rainfall patterns, which have worsened food insecurity and deepened rural poverty.
According to AfDB, the project will directly benefit about 92 500 smallholder farmers, with at least half of them being women and 20% for youths.
These groups have been disproportionately affected by recurring droughts, limited economic opportunities and unstable agricultural yields.
Beyond the primary beneficiaries, an estimated 200 000 people in surrounding communities are expected to gain from improved infrastructure, enhanced agricultural productivity, and strengthened food and nutrition systems.
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The project will also generate employment, with 320 full-time jobs and about 2 100 seasonal opportunities anticipated across crop and livestock value chains.
“This investment represents a critical intervention to build climate resilience, reduce vulnerability, and improve food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable rural communities,” said Eyerusalem Fasika, the Bank’s country manager for Zimbabwe.
Martin Fregene, director of agriculture and agro-industry at the Bank, said the initiative aligns with the institution’s broader development priorities.
“The project will enhance the adaptive capacity, promote sustainable economic opportunities, and strengthen rural communities’ resilience to climate change within the target areas,” he said.
AfDB has been a long-standing partner in Zimbabwe’s rural development efforts, supporting programmes aimed at reducing food insecurity and poverty.
The ACRES project builds on that track record, with a focus on climate-smart agriculture, improved water resources management, and the development of sustainable grazing systems.
The latest intervention also signals continued efforts to position agriculture at the centre of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery strategy, particularly in the face of climate change pressures that continue to threaten livelihoods in rural communities.
