Plan Zimbabwe Annual Progress Report 2009

A YEAR IN

ZIMBAB09WE SUMMARY REPORT

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GOOD REASONS why Plan works in Zimbabwe

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• 80% of the population lives below the poverty line ma

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Children express their views at a school meeting.

• Five million Zimbabweans have needed food aid this year

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Our priorities in Zimbabwe

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• Fulfilling the right to quality education for all children Mutoko Chinhoyi Harare Harare

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• Reducing vulnerability to HIV/AIDS

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• Keepingi children safe and fully involved in development Mo z a mb i q u eMo C hzaanmb n eli q u e C h a n n el Mania

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• Helping families to produce and earn enough for their children

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MADAGASCAR Children collect agricultural seed from a Plan project.

ZIMBABWE FACTS Capital: Harare

spiral of the economy has SWAZILAND been attributed mainly Population: 13 P rmillion o g r a m mPer to nr iatms m e U n iand oUgmismanagement ts corruption and the eviction Language: English, Shona of more than 4,000 white and Ndebele farmers in the controversial land redistribution of Economy: Mineral exports, agriculture,LESOTHO and tourism are LESOTHO2000. This has also resulted in Zimbabwe, the main foreign currency previously an exporter earners of Zimbabwe. The of maize, becoming a mining sector remains very net importer. Tobacco lucrative, with some of the exports have also declined world’s largest platinum sharply. The Zimbabwe reserves. The downward ge

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• Improving the health of mothers and children

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Conservation Task Force released a report in June 2007, estimating 60% of Zimbabwe’s wildlife has died since 2000. The report warns that the loss of life combined with widespread deforestation is potentially disastrous for the tourist industry. In January, 2009, Zimbabwe introduced a new Z$100 trillion banknote. On January 29, in an effort to

counteract his country’s runaway inflation, acting Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announced that Zimbabweans will be permitted to use other, more stable currencies (e.g. the Euro, South African Rand and the United States Dollar) to do business, alongside the Zimbabwe dollar.

“Our achievements are only possible because of the dedication and courage of our partner communities, our staff, and the support of our sponsors and donors” – Simba Machingaidze, Plan’s Country Director

I n d i a nI nOdcieaannO c e a n

A YEAR IN

ZIMBABWE SUMMARY REPORT

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FOCUS ON: BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FAMILY LIVELIHOOD Recurrent droughts and the Land Reform Program have caused food shortages for many households in recent years.

We aim to increase the number of families who have a secure supply of food, reduce the number of undernourished children and increase agricultural production. This is done through a range of measures including helping families to grow drought-resistant crops and keep livestock.

We also aim to increase families’ income through schemes such as community-based savings and loans groups.

PRODUCING ENOUGH TO FEED THE FAMILY Children learn to download photos during a child protection workshop.

The Bigger Picture

Plan is working with children, families and whole communities to address the problems that Zimbabwe faces. This report can only tell a small part of that story. As a further insight, last year we also: • Helped 32,271 children who would have dropped out of school due to financial hardship to continue their studies • Supported medical teams to treat 3,000 adults and children who would otherwise have had no access to healthcare • Protected 273 infants, 2,480 primary school children and 646 secondary school children from malnutrition through school feeding schemes • 92 wells were sunk, four boreholes drilled, 244 community water committees set up, and 1,183 household and school latrines constructed.

Your support as a sponsor is crucial to achieving these positive results. So on behalf of the communities, partner organisations, and most of all the children we work with – thank you!

“Everyone receiving animals is well prepared to look after them, and to get the most out of the scheme” To learn more about Plan’s work in Zimbabwe visit plan.org.au/ourwork/southernafrica/zimbabwe

Produced for Zaimbabwe by the Australian National Office.

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ood shortages are now a real threat to Zimbabwean communities and their children’s health.

have been passed on, the contractual obligation ends, and all future benefits of the animals are enjoyed by the household.

Plan is responding in a variety of ways. One proven method of helping families to feed themselves is by distributing livestock. In Zimbabwe, the Livestock Pass-On Scheme is aimed at the poorest: orphaned children who have become the heads of families, the chronically sick, single parents and so on. These groups are unlikely to own cattle, and rely on subsistence farming and petty trading to survive.

Mrs Magada, a widow living with her five children in Muchisi village, participated in the scheme. She was trained in animal husbandry and was then able to train the other members in her group.

This is standard practice, ensuring that everyone receiving animals is well prepared to look after them, and to get the most out of the scheme.

“I gathered other group members together, and we worked as per the instructions I received,” says Mrs Magada. She was also taught about tree cultivation and the benefits to her land (trees can stop erosion and provide fruit, for example). She has established a plot with different tree species.

The aim of the project is to give chickens, guinea fowl or goats to families living in regions where there is severe drought, and food is scarce. Those who participated in the project received five birds or three goats with the proviso that they pass on the first born female offspring to another member of the project. Guinea fowl, chickens and goats reproduce quickly; they are also easy to look after, and therefore ideal for mothers with children to care for, or people with HIV/AIDS. A community-run project

“Currently my family is milking the nanny-goat.

We get an average of a litre per day and hope that with improved pastures from our tree-planting project and better milking techniques we will be able to get more. We will then be able to sell milk to our neighbours,” says Mrs Magada.

A kid was passed to the next member of the group when it was weaned at the end of July 2008.

The scheme was set up in two districts, Mutare in eastern Zimbabwe and Tsholotsho in the west.

Groups of six members each were chosen by the community to take part. One person in each group was given poultry or goats, and agreed to pass on an equal number of kids or chicks to another member, who then has to pass on to another, and so forth. The scheme is governed by a contract which clearly states how each person will receive and pass on the animals. 492 people were initial beneficiaries, with almost 3,000 eventually receiving livestock. Once the offspring

Small livestock development is an extremely effective way of ensuring sufficient food, and alleviating poverty among the poorest members of communities. Not only do the animals provide milk and eggs for the family looking after them, any excess can be sold to buy grain and vegetables.

With training in animal welfare and breeding and rearing techniques, this project has shown how a helping hand can pull communities out of poverty now and for years to come.

“We get an average of a litre per day and hope that with improved pastures from our tree-planting project and better milking techniques we will be able to get more”

Some names have been changed for child protection and privacy purposes.

plan.org.au