More than 2,000 vulnerable families in Zimbabwe’s three urban areas are set to benefit from community-shared assets such as greenhouses, and income-generation activities as part of a programme to capacitate the families to meet their basic food and nutrition needs over the next year.
This has been made possible through the Urban Resilience programme extended by the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID) to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Under the programme, WFP received a US$2 million contribution to support urban communities through sustainable resilience-building, livelihood creation and socio-economic empowerment activities.
As part of the programme, WFP will provide internal savings and lending (ISAL) training to boost financial literacy among participants while the youth will undertake digital and vocational skills development training.
“We are humbled and honored for the assistance that USAID is extending to the urban poor, following tumultuous years marked by COVID-19, climatic shocks, and food and fuel price hikes. We focus on addressing the short-to mid-term needs of vulnerable urban households so that they can thrive,” said Francesca Erdelmann, WFP’s Representative and Country Director.
“Zimbabwean cities are growing and face the challenge to provide decent livelihoods for their dwellers. With USAID’s backing we will continue supporting resilient cities, while working with national and local institutions to advance policies and social protection for the urban poor.
“USAID remains the largest bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe and funds sustainable solutions for communities affected by food insecurity. So far in 2023, WFP has received USD 11.5 million from USAID for emergency response.
“Additionally, USD 15.7 million are available for resilience-building activities, in both rural and urban areas, including the contribution towards urban resilience that we are announcing today. I have no doubt that investments like these are critical in building stronger and more robust communities,” said Erdelmann.
Last year, 18,000 households across 20 urban areas participated to resilience-building activities.
WFP started supporting communities in urban areas in Zimbabwe in 2019 and USAID is already proving to be a steadfast supporter.
“The Urban Resilience program will improve the ability of these urban households to meet their basic food and nutrition needs while reducing the negative coping strategies, and need for urgent assistance,” said USAID Acting Mission Director Priscilla Sampil.
“This is our third round of USAID funding to the World Food Programme’s Urban Resilience Program, demonstrating the U.S. government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity and poverty in urban areas.”
Sampil said under the initiative WFP will create assets and develop transformative skills that will improve vulnerable families and communities’ access to livelihood opportunities.
Approximately 1.5 million people living in urban areas are food insecure according to latest government assessments. People who live in urban areas have fewer opportunities for subsistence livelihoods compared to rural areas.
As a result, most urban residents live hand-to-mouth, working multiple jobs in the informal sector. Unless assistance is provided urgently, people will continue to face constraints due to economic challenges as a result of inflation and rising food costs.
“With USAID’s support we will continue supporting income generating activities, while working with national and local institutions to advance policies and social protection for the urban poor,” said Erdelmann.