AfDB team jets into Zimbabwe for US$25m agric projects
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
An African Development Bank (AfDB) mission team has arrived in Zimbabwe for a joint courtesy engagement on two flagship agricultural financing programmes valued at US$25 million, the Zimbabwe Agriculture Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project (ZAVaCLEP) and the Zimbabwe Agriculture Climate Resilience and Vulnerability Reduction Project (Zim-ACRES), it has been learnt.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri confirmed the visit, saying the AfDB delegation will be in the country for two weeks.
He said the mission highlights the strong and enduring partnership between Zimbabwe and the AfDB in driving agricultural transformation and strengthening climate resilience across the sector.
He said the engagement reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a US$15.8bn industry by 2030 under the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS II) 2026-2030.
According to Prof Jiri, the two programmes are expected to strengthen agricultural value chains, enhance climate resilience and improve livelihoods for rural communities as the country pursues sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector.
Professor Jiri expressed the Ministry’s appreciation for AfDB’s continued support, noting that the US$24.9m Zim-ACRES grant comes at a critical time as rural communities recover from the devastating 2023/24 El Niño-induced drought.
He said the Ministry’s early warning and early action approach — anchored on the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, climate-smart Village Business Units and the “Dam as an Economy” concept — remains central to building resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate shocks.
“Let me reaffirm the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensure that all resources availed through AfDB support, including Zim-ACRES and ZAVaCLEP, are utilised transparently, efficiently and for maximum impact on our farmers and rural communities,” Prof Jiri said.
Over the next two weeks, the joint AfDB-Zimbabwe team will undertake a field mission to supervise the implementation of ZAVaCLEP, which is entering its second year, while also officially launching Zim-ACRES.
The mission will engage farmers and stakeholders across targeted districts, focusing on accelerating procurement processes, mobilising Village Business Units as key entry points and ensuring that early warning and early action systems embedded in both projects translate into tangible benefits before climate shocks occur.
The mission is being led by AfDB Programme Manager Yappy Silungwe, who said the timing of the grant presents a unique opportunity to strengthen support for Zimbabwean farmers.
“The grant has come at exactly the right time, and we have a real opportunity to make it count for the farmers of Zimbabwe. ZAVaCLEP, which we launched in October 2025, has given us valuable experience as we enter its second year, and we are now channelling those lessons directly into ensuring Zim-ACRES hits the ground running.
“The resources are there. What we are here to do is unlock momentum, sharpen procurement processes and activate Village Business Units so that every dollar reaches the communities it was designed to serve.
“We are confident that with the commitment demonstrated by the Ministry, we will deliver transformational impact within the lifespan of this project. I urge the team to fast-track implementation, particularly on procurement, Village Business Unit activation and key recruitments, so that every dollar benefits the people of Zimbabwe,” Silungwe said.
