The African Development Bank Group has approved a $25 million grant for Zimbabwe to support rural communities heavily affected by climate change, with a major focus on strengthening smallholder agriculture, improving grazing areas, expanding water resources, and attracting private sector investment into the country’s agricultural sector.
The funding, approved through the Bank’s Transition Support Facility Pillar 1, will support the Zimbabwe Agricultural Climate Resilient and Vulnerability Reduction Project (ACRES), which will run from 2026 to 2030.
The project is expected to improve farming productivity and strengthen food systems in communities facing recurring climate shocks.
The programme will be implemented in some of Zimbabwe’s most climate-vulnerable farming regions, including Gutu District in Masvingo Province and Gwanda, Matobo, Mangwe, and Bulilima districts in Matabeleland South.
These areas have large livestock populations and continue to face low and unpredictable rainfall that has affected crop production, grazing systems, and rural livelihoods.
The project will directly support 92,500 vulnerable smallholder farmers, many of whom are dealing with food shortages, repeated droughts, and limited economic opportunities.
At least 50 per cent of direct beneficiaries will be women, while 20 per cent will be young people involved in agriculture.
Beyond direct beneficiaries, about 200,000 people in surrounding communities are expected to benefit from improved agricultural infrastructure, stronger food systems, better nutrition, and increased economic stability.
The project is also expected to create 320 full-time jobs and 2,100 seasonal jobs 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 investment is expected to strengthen climate-smart agriculture by helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns while improving productivity in both crop farming and livestock production.
Martin Fregene said the initiative aligns with the bank’s broader agricultural development goals.
“The project will enhance the adaptive capacity, promote sustainable economic opportunities, and strengthen rural communities’ resilience to climate change, within the target areas,” Fregene said.
The African Development Bank has remained a major development partner in Zimbabwe’s rural economy through investments aimed at reducing poverty and improving food production.
The ACRES project expands that support by placing climate-smart farming, agricultural infrastructure, and long-term rural resilience at the centre of Zimbabwe’s agricultural development plans.
