THE World Food Programme (WFP), working with World Vision Zimbabwe and the government, is targeting more than 83 000 people in Mberengwa district with food aid to curb acute food insecurity.
WFP officials are expected in the district today to roll out the food aid distribution.
According to a Donor Field Mission Brief released yesterday, the intervention is being implemented under the Mberengwa Lean Season Assistance (LSA) Programme, which seeks to address food shortages during the lean season in one of Zimbabwe’s most climate-vulnerable districts.
“Implemented by WFP in partnership with the government of Zimbabwe and World Vision, with funding from the People of Japan, the programme provides lifesaving food assistance while protecting livelihoods and promoting nutrition, gender inclusion and community resilience,” the brief read.
Mberengwa lies in agro-ecological regions IV, V and VI, areas characterised by low and erratic rainfall, frequent droughts and high temperatures. About 84% of households depend on subsistence farming, which has been severely affected by climate change.
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The 2024/25 agricultural season performed poorly, leaving an estimated 40% of households food insecure, according to ZimLAC 2025.
WFP said it was targeting 83 384 beneficiaries, of whom 61% are female and 39% are male. Food distribution will cover 21 of the district’s 37 wards, with 59 food distribution points established.
“Targeting prioritises food insecure households through a community-based, participatory approach,” the brief read.
Key interventions include targeted food distribution between January and March, nutrition education and sensitisation — particularly for children under five — malnutrition screening, hygiene promotion such as hand-washing using tippy taps at distribution points and the integration of gender and protection messaging.
The programme also supports multi-sectoral service delivery at food distribution points in collaboration with other UN agencies.
WFP said the intervention had improved household food availability, reduced harmful coping strategies such as casual labour, protected livelihood assets, improved school attendance and brought essential services closer to communities through integrated food distribution points.