Humanitarian and social justice advocacy organisation CARE International and its partners have initiated the Community-Based Adaptation: Scaling up Community Action for Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Southern Africa and Beyond (CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+) project.
Generously funded by the German Government’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV-IKI), the project sets out to bolster community resilience while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity in Southern Africa and beyond.
Spanning across three countries – Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – the project has received a substantial funding allocation totaling Euro 19,996,120. Zimbabwe, in particular, has been earmarked to receive Euro 6.6 million, with the project aiming to directly benefit 18,800 individuals and indirectly impacting approximately 190,000 in the Bikita and Chiredzi regions.
During the launch of the project, the German Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Udo Volz reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to combating climate change. “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,” said Ambassador Volz.
Ambassador Volz highlighted the necessity of collective action and international cooperation in tackling climate change, recognizing the unique vulnerabilities faced by nations in the wake of environmental shifts. “It is our shared responsibility to work collaboratively towards sustainable solutions,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Amkela Sidange, the Director Education and Publicity Manager for the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), highlighted Zimbabwe’s National Development Plan (NDS1) and National Climate Policy as fundamental frameworks guiding the government’s climate change efforts, underscoring 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. 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,” said Sidange.
