A Story of Resilience in Zimbabwe: Cultivating Dreams for a Better Future After Cyclone Idai

HARARE, November 10, 2020—When Cyclone Idai hit more than a year ago, Nancy and Dingane Sithole awoke to discover their house and property demolished. Their harvest and stored grains from the previous season, which would have sustained them through the next, were ruined. The cyclone had hit before they could reap the profits of their hard work.

“When the cyclone hit, it was the most devastating moment in my life,” said Nancy, standing outside of their farm in Chipinge, Eastern Zimbabwe. “We were caught unawares, and it was worsened by the fact that the rains pounded without ceasing during the night. Houses were flooded; some walls gave in, while roofs were blown off. It was very terrifying.”

The couple, ages 78 and 95 respectively, were two of thousands of Zimbabweans severely affected by the impact of Cyclone Idai, which caused catastrophic damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in 2019. In Zimbabwe alone, the disaster displaced over 60,000 people, devastated over 50,000 households, and inflicted over $622 million in damages to property, land and the environment.

Dingane and Nancy Sithole hope to harvest food this year thanks to the seed input from FAO. Photo: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Working to respond to these needs through the $72 million Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project (ZIRP), the Zimbabwe government galvanized global expertise from partners, including the World Bank, UNOPS, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization. The combined effort has contributed to restoring lives and livelihoods by boosting crop and livestock production, rehabilitating communal irrigation systems, and building disaster resilience through partnerships with local communities. Nearly 240,000 people received help through cash transfers for food. Farmers were offered seeds to support their trade, boost the local economy and bolster food security.

“There was swift response, as different organizations started assisting us. I have to be honest with you, I had never received food or clothing handouts in my life,” Nancy recalled. “I was not sure how I would have managed to plant for the current season as I was struggling to feed my grandchildren and would not have managed to buy seed and fertilizer.”

To stave off hunger from famine, over 7,400 households received agricultural inputs including maize, cowpea and basal fertilizer, with more than half led by women. Through partnerships with the FAO, nearly 6,000 people were trained in food production, and about seven million doses of vaccination were provided for cattle and livestock. Additionally, nearly 1,000 smallholder farmers received 1,000 tons of survival feed, which in turn supported more than a thousand families.

In Chimanimani and Chipinge, the country’s worst affected districts, community-driven infrastructure restoration projects employed about 25 people per project. To limit the disproportionate impact of the disaster on women and girls, at least 45% of people employed are women, with higher percentages in some locations. At least 300 community workers and about 12,000 people will benefit from this restoration process in collaboration with UNOPS. Additionally, 13 community assets, including irrigation systems, roads, and gardens have been fully rehabilitated. Each community project is led by a female and male supervisor, to promote gender equality, social protection, and boost social inclusion in re-building communities through these partnerships with the WFP via a Food Assistance for Assets program.

Additionally, nearly 50,000 people are receiving healthcare through the combined efforts of the WHO and UNICEF. Nearly a million people in high-risk areas are receiving health information on COVID-19. Through UNICEF, approximately 20,000 children are receiving school supplies and education services.

 As part of the World Bank’s strategic assistance to the government, a $3 million grant has been provided from the State and Peacebuilding Fund.

“The grant will promote risk-informed development, enhance post-disaster coordination and build stakeholder capacity for disaster risk management,” said R. Mukami Kariuki, World Bank Country Manager for Zimbabwe. “It will also strengthen monitoring and targeting mechanisms at all levels to enable prevention, early warning and timely response. Informed decision-making is the key to building resilience and ensuring disaster preparedness throughout the country.”