OXFAM Climate Adaptation for Rural Livelihoods (CARL) 2018 - 2021

Outcome 1: Targeted vulnerable communities increase adoption of climate resilient livelihoods and agricultural production systems. The proportion of households adopting climate resilient practices rose to 52.29% from a baseline of 47.9 % however there was quite a large difference between the different geographical areas with the biggest adoption rate in Bulilima (27.8% rose to 42.9%) followed by Gutu (46.1% 51.8%) and the lowest adoption rate in Buhera(69.8% to 71.08%). The reason for this difference is complex but is linked to effectiveness in extension and outreach, demographics (Bulilima households dominated by women who tend to be early adopters), acceptance of practices and presence of other like minded organisations. Households with a diversity of income sources rose from a baseline of 58% to 85% and this showed a consistent rise across all three Geographical areas this time with the greatest change in Buhera(35%-85.9%), followed by Gutu (65%-90.3%) and then Bulilima (74%-80.2%). Bulilima was already sitting on a high baseline in terms of diversity of income The reason for these differences can be explained to some extent through the inability for farmers in Bullilima to benefit from solar irrigation due to insufficient water availability and because the beef and sugar bean value chains in Buhera are much more developed. Overall a total of 6140 households have been reached through a range of adaptation and resilience building against a target of 6000. Specific achievements are highlighted below: Output 1.1: 5 gendered innovative natural resources management and climate resilient agricultural systems incubated and tested in the CRVs in target districts. Achieved: 6 innovations delivered including cured manure, groundnut varietal testing, goat breeding centres established, community based custom hiring centres, soil fertility trenches and grazeland pasture improvement Output 1.2: A minimum of 10,000 hectares of the watershed in the CRVs restored/protected to improve food security and livelihoods using the natural ecosystem. Achieved: 13,956 hectares protected. This has lead to fields better protected against topsoil loss and hence increased crop productivity and wetlands contributing to water security, biodiversity and livelihood diversification through aqua and apiculture. Output 1.3: 5000 farmers in the 16 CRV villages adopt a range of gendered technologies and practices that enhance the drought resilience, production and income of their crop production systems. Achieved: 4105 farmers reached (2716 female, 1389 male) Output 1.4: 1000 Livestock farmers in the 16 CRVs adopt a range of gendered technologies and practices that build the drought resilience, production income of the livestock production system. Achieved: 621 (220 F and 349 male) reached through cattle and goat interventions Output 1.5 16 innovative climate risk management institutional arrangements established/strengthened in each CRV. Achieved: 16 CRVs now have by laws and climate risk management arrangements established. Outcome 2: Rural women and youth in targeted vulnerable districts increase their income and economic power in sustainable agriculture value chains. The average annual income for women increased almost by a factor of ten from USD 384 to USD 3770 and the average annual income for youth increased from USD 3480 to USD 4500. The proportion of women and youth with secure livelihood asset base increased across all districts as compared to baseline. Output 2.1: 3000 women and youth participating Village Savings and Lending Groups established in the three districts. Achieved: 1,430 women participating in VSALs. The target was not attained as the VSAL groups consisted of less than 10 people whereas groups of over 30 were predicted Output 2.2: - 1500 women and 900 youth benefit from a range of green agri-businesses opportunities in private sector supported value chains in the 16 CRVs in the targeted districts. Achieved: 830 women and 199 youth are participating in green agribusiness opportunities. The reason for the results being below target are that the geographic scope and catchment area for selecting beneficiaries meant there was a limit to how many similar green enterprises could be rolled out and the youth proved to be very mobile and not able to commit long term to the project. Given these facts the targets were overestimated and there is a need for a larger catchment area and for the projects to be truly youth focused from the very start. Outcome 3: Support institutions have strengthened technical capacities to address mitigation and adaptation concerns of rural livelihoods. Required skill and technology at the Metereololgical services department rose from a baseline of 0 (lack of capacity) to a score of 3 (adequate capacity). The weather warning products and severe weather warnings have been greatly improved since the intervention began. The staff at MSD have been well capacitated and remain positive and committed to their work. Further work is needed on digitalisation, effective dissemination and creating more efficient systems as much of the work is still duplicated and carried out by hand. However, despite Covid 19 compromising these activities, there has been a great deal of good ground work laid, the relationship between SMHI and MSD is good and there is good will from both sides to expand upon the past years work. Outcome 4: Increased awareness and replication of adaptation measures. Output 4.1: Project M&E system developed, implemented and providing adaptive feedback to support effective project management. Achieved: The project M&E system comprised the following elements: baseline assessment; weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual monitoring and progress reports; Mid-term review; Terminal Evaluation. An output tracker was developed to track progress at mid-point in the third year that is in March 2021. The tracker assisted to assess areas that were completed and also areas that required more prioritization. Output 4.2: Knowledge and communication products related to rural livelihoods resilience produced and disseminated with the target districts, at national and international levels. Achieved: The project regularly produced monthly progress reports and project steering committee meetings for district stakeholders to keep them informed about project implementation. Case studies are being produced to showcase the project success stories YouTube video clips capturing key messages from the project are also scheduled to be produced from January 2022 for national and international audience. Oxfam platforms will be used to disseminated these. Twitter and Facebook were also regularly used to showcase the projects interventions and impact. The project produced vulnerability and adaptation assessments products for each of the targeted project areas which were shared mainly with the targeted vulnerable communities and district stakeholders Gender Gender training and women's empowerment has been strong component at all layers of the CARL project. 96 Gender champions have been trained and 62 gender model families capacitated on Gender Action Learning Systems. Positive changes were reported around resource ownership and control, decision making, time and labour saving activities and sharing responsibilities and tasks in an equal manner

The project development objective is to improve climate resilience of agricultural production and rural livelihoods in Buhera, Gutu and Bulilima districts through concrete on-the ground vulnerability reducing and adaptive capacity building investments, knowledge support and technical capacity building of supporting institutions. The specific objectives of the project are: 1.  To reduce vulnerability of the smallholder agriculture production system to climate impacts through developing and implementing a matrix of vulnerability reducing and adaptive capacity building measures in 16 model Climate Resilient Villages (CRVs) in Buhera, Gutu and Bulilima districts for the benefit of 6,000 households. 2.  To enable 3000 rural women and 1000 youth to expand their economic opportunities and income from more efficient and inclusive agri-food value chains in groundnuts, Michigan pea bean, sugar beans, mung bean, honey, cattle and goats. 3.  To build the capacity of relevant supporting institutions to address climate adaptation and mitigation information requirements for the targeted vulnerable rural areas. 4.  To share information and learning on the implementation of climate change adaptation for sustainable socio-economic development in Zimbabwe. The intended outcomes and specific outputs include: Outcome 1: Targeted vulnerable communities increase adoption of climate resilient livelihoods and agricultural production systems. Output 1.1: A range of gendered innovative natural resources management and climate resilient agricultural systems incubated and tested in the CRVs in target districts. Output 1.2: A minimum of 10,000 hectares of the watershed in the CRVs restored/protected to improve food security and livelihoods using the natural ecosystem. Output 1.3: 5000 farmers in the 16 CRV villages adopt a range of gendered technologies and practices that enhance the drought resilience, production and income of their crop production systems. Output 1.4: 1000 Livestock farmers in the 16 CRVs adopt a range of gendered technologies and practices that build the drought resilience, production income of the livestock production system. Output 1.5 Innovative climate risk management institutional arrangements established/strengthened in each CRV. Outcome 2: Rural women and youth in targeted vulnerable districts increase their income and economic power in sustainable agriculture value chains. Output 2.1: 120 Village Savings and Lending Groups established in the three districts and reaching out to 3000 women and youth. Output 2.2: - 900 youth and 1500 women benefit from a range of green agri-businesses opportunities in private sector supported value chains in the 16 CRVs in the targeted districts. Outcome 3: Support institutions have strengthened technical capacities to address mitigation and adaptation concerns of rural livelihoods. Outputs 3.1: 60 rain gauges and 10 community suitable water level sensors installed in the sub catchment areas in which the 16 CRVs are situated. Output 3.2: Meteorological Services Department capacities to generate and disseminate meteorological and climate information for agriculture and water resources management improved. Output 3.3 Decision making tools/Matrix for climate risk management in agriculture and water resources developed and tested in the CRVs. Outcome 4: Increased awareness and replication of adaptation measures. Output 4.1: Project M&E system developed, implemented and providing adaptive feedback to support effective project management. Output 4.2: Knowledge and communication products related to rural livelihoods resilience produced and disseminated with the target districts, at national and international levels.