US$7m climate change windfall for Zim

MORE than 200 000 villagers in Bikita and Chiredzi districts, Masvingo province, are set to benefit from a €6,6 million (approximately US$7m) from Germany meant to combat the effects of climate change in southern Africa.

The US$7m is part of a US$20m funding from the German government’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV-IKI) that will see Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia implementing the climate-based adaptation project with a focus on building community resilience to climate change, while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.

Speaking during the launch, German ambassador to Zimbabwe Udo Volz emphasised the European country’s commitment to addressing climate change and the need for collective action and international cooperation.

“Our commitment to the Paris Agreement underscores the importance we place on limiting global temperature rise and supporting vulnerable nations in adapting to the changing climate. In alignment with this policy, Germany actively engages in bilateral diplomatic arrangements with countries around the world, including Zimbabwe,” Volz said.

“We recognise the unique vulnerabilities that nations face in the wake of climate change, and it is our shared responsibility to work collaboratively towards sustainable solutions.”

In her remarks on behalf of Environment, Climate and Wildlife permanent secretary Prosper Matondi, Environmental Management Agency education and publicity manager Amkela Sidange emphasised the significance of community-based structures and the inclusive approach of the project.

“By engaging communities in the planning process, we are not only ensuring that interventions are context-specific but also fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment among our people,” Sidange said.

“This inclusive approach ensures that the most vulnerable among us are active participants in shaping their own destinies, as enshrined in the government policy of leaving no one and no place behind.”

The preparatory phase for the programme started in 2019 with broader consultation which included engagement with communities and various policy making stakeholders to build the necessary enabling relationship conditions for success and impact.

The project will work in about 100 communities or wards in the three countries until August 2028.