Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Core Support

Results achieved With the initiative initially running from October 2021 to 31 December 2024 (implementation period), before the 6 month costed extension, ending 30 June 2025 this period 4, January-December 2024 was the last year of implementation. Therefore, it means that the activities would be reduced in number as the expectation is that more effort is given towards enhancing sustainability and impact of the initiative. Results achieved Outcome 1: Functional local level institutions sustainably managing climate resilience infrastructure and natural resources for improved food security. - Improved Functionality and Governance of Local Level Institutions Irrigation Management Committees (IMCs) in Gutu district and Gwanda district, demonstrated strengthened institutional capacity and accountability. As of 2024, seven constitutional disputes, primarily in Gutus Ruti IMC were resolved, enhancing governance and operational transparency. These improvements translated into tangible gains in farmer collaboration and productivity. Notably, 80% of participating farmers reported average seasonal earnings of USD 750, representing a significant shift towards a business oriented farming mindset. Irrigation Management Committees (IMCs) in Gutu district and Gwanda district became more functional and transparent as a result of the interventions, with communal ownership of the revised constitutions for Ruti IMC in Gutu district. Reduced conflicts improved collaboration among farmers, leading to increased productivity in irrigation schemes. An example of how conflict resolution/ reduction has enhanced production can be based on comparing baseline figures to the current year. On average each farmer in all four irrigation schemes in Gutu district and Gwanda district was producing 2 x 50kg of maize, 11 buckets of beans, and 4 buckets of wheat per season at the baseline stage of the project in 2022. By 2024, the productivity had risen to approximately 5 bags of 50 kg maize, 30 buckets of beans, and 10 buckets of wheat per farmer per season. Initially, these schemes had limited functionality, with a 2021 baseline showing that 59% of farmers in Gutu district and 74% in Gwanda district reported conflicts involving conflict between members and the Irrigation Management Committees (IMCs), no collective action in the community, unavailability of sufficient water for irrigating crops, distribution of resources, replacement of members, conflict over the use of a cropping calendar, and other governance related challenges. - Strengthened Accountability and Multi-stakeholder collaborations The intervention improved local level institutions' transparency and accountability in managing climate resilient infrastructure. The IMCs in Gutu district and Gwanda now provide regular financial updates to their members, which has helped resolve conflicts related to financial management. The Gutu RDC has strengthened its bottom-up approach to bylaw formulation processes. The RDC disseminated and validated its draft environment bylaws with communities before these bylaws were sent to the Ministry of Local Government and eventually passed in December 2023 and gazetted in 2024. Several community recommendations were incorporated into the final version of the local bylaw, including stiffer penalties on the use of sleighs and farming practices that lead to siltation and soil erosion. The Gutu RDC, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), and the Devure sub-catchment council are now responsive to information requests regarding water resources management. This is being done by providing information on projects that are being funded by the levies being paid to the sub-catchment council for water and on payback activities that are being implemented. There is also a wider sharing of information regarding water resource plans and addressing issues of exorbitant water levies and water rationing. - Youth-Led Environmental Action and Policy Engagement Environmental Clubs in Binga spearheaded district wide campaigns on ecological preservation including cleanup campaigns and re-greening projects. The Environmental Clubs have nurtured a new generation of environmental advocates actively shaping ecological and natural resource laws and policies, thereby contributing to sustainable resource management and building long term community resilience to climate related challenges. Unexpected Results: Increased Public Sector Support for Infrastructure - Improved relationships between communities and authorities catalyzed infrastructure development. In Gutu district, the government initiated plans for a Phase 4 irrigation extension and this is key to enhancing climate resilience and boosting local food security. In Gwanda district, after realising the impact of irrigation schemes, FAO-backed upgrades of Silikwe irrigation system were launched in response to the proven success of the community led schemes. Outcome 2: Empowered communities, especially women and youth advocate for inclusive climate change and natural resource management policies that respond to their needs and interests. - Gender-inclusive Community Participation in national legislative policies Communities in Binga district, particularly women, directly influenced national legislative processes, including the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill. Their submissions, acknowledged by the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, positioned them as critical stakeholders in shaping inclusive environmental governance frameworks. The submitted policy recommendations were aligned to local needs and priorities. Acknowledgment of these submissions by the Parliamentary Committee on Environment signifies increased community agency, especially for women, in shaping laws and policies related to climate change and natural resource governance. - Citizen participation in policy formulation and legislative reforms The project expanded the influence of irrigation farmers in water resource management by promoting public participation in policy formulation and decision making processes. It connected farmers with policymakers, institutions, and a broad range of relevant stakeholders, thus allowing for greater involvement at the local level. This bottom up approach has also filtered into national level key legislative reforms such as the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, Environmental Management Act Amendment, and Water Act Amendment. This approach also empowered communities to actively participate in developing solutions to the challenges they face, rather than remaining passive recipients of imposed decisions. For example, farmers from Gwanda and Gutu district irrigation schemes exercised their voice and shared their lived realities on climate change by participating in the Pre COP 28 and 29 consultations held in Harare in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The farmers engaged with the Climate Negotiators team for Zimbabwe and influenced the government's position on key issues like Loss and Damage. In Tinde ward in Binga, the Ward Environmental Management Committee (WEMC), with support from community leadership, advocated for the ward to be designated as a high risk area for human wildlife conflict (HWC). Currently classified as Group C, which is not considered high risk, the community is pushing for a reclassification to Group B to access benefits under the conservancy scheme. They developed and submitted a petition to the Binga Rural District Council, and negotiations are still underway with the committee concerned, the Binga Environmental Management Committee (BEMC). - Enhanced engagements with duty bearers Empowered groups including women from Ruti irrigation in Gutu district and Sukwe irrigation in Gwanda district, successfully engaged with sub catchment water councils and RDCs, respectively, to address water supply issues (such as dam excavation and engine repairs). Devure sub catchment had a series of engagements with the farmers to address the farmers concerns, especially the one related to the design of the irrigation system which was pumping inadequate water. This resulted in the Devure sub catchment linking the farmers at Ruti Irrigation scheme with the Department of Irrigation and Mechanization based in Masvingo. The department is currently assisting in the upgrade of the scheme. Duty bearers responsiveness to these concerns underscores improved governance structures that now integrate community voices, a crucial step toward more inclusive climate resilience and natural resource management. Outcome 3: Strengthened institutional capacity of ZELA to contribute to sustainable natural resource governance and climate change resilience. - Strategic Partnerships and Resource mobilisation ZELA convened a donor conference in 2024 which attracted over 40 strategic partners including donors and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), leading to new strategic partnerships (e.g., Hivos) and co-hosting of events such as the Youth Conference on Climate Change with other CSOs. Through engagements with key government bodies on Natural Resource Governance (NRG ) such as the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Rural District Councils (RDCs), Agricultural Extension Services (Agritex), and civil society organizations, ZELA strengthened its institutional network, facilitating consortium building and widening funding opportunities to sustained influence on the country's natural resource governance (NRG) agenda. - Increased Organizational Visibility and Technical Influence ZELA's technical contributions to Harare's climate strategy and EU wildlife projects elevated its recognition as a key climate and wildlife governance player. Demand for consultancies experienced during the reporting period, reflected its growing technical reputation. Engagements with policy and decision makers at Harare Municipality to develop an environmental and climate change strategy were done, demonstrated ZELA's growing prominence in climate change and wildlife programming. Potential collaborations and consultancies reflect heightened demand for ZELA's technical expertise among other CSO's, positioning the organization as a leader in the NRG sector both nationally and regionally. - Thought Leadership on climate and natural resources governance Research outputs, such as those on carbon credits, amplified ZELA's influence regionally. Presentations at the Africa Voluntary Carbon Market Forum and SADC Industrialisation Week demonstrated the organisations credibility. In addition, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development requested ZELA to assist with the review of the draft Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill and such influence facilitated for immense contribution to shaping the country's policy discourse and practices on NRG. - Organizational Growth and Sustainability The core support from Sida to ZELA, coupled with other funding streams enabled ZELA to strategically position for implementation of project activities in line with its 2025-2029 Strategic mandate. The annual planning meeting that was guided and supported by Sida, helped ensure that the project was implemented in line with its accountability obligations, with an impact orientation. Internal system reviews, including the monitoring and evaluation and financial related systems, contributed to sharper programmatic focus, enhanced financial governance, and increased media visibility. This positions ZELA for long term sustainability and leadership in the NRG space. Strategic midterm and end of year review meetings facilitated for robust interrogation of NRG mandate and agenda of the organisation from a point of understanding topical wildlife programming and climate related initiatives nationally, regionally and internationally. This organizational strengthening paved the way for greater innovation, responsiveness to emerging NRG issues, and long term sustainability, with enhanced media visibility, that has the potential to attract diversified funding streams.

There are three main objectives to this intervention: Objective 1: To strengthen the governance capacity of local level actors to drive sustainability of food security systems, climate resilience and natural resources management. Objective 2: To strengthen the capacity of communities especially women and young people to influence the design and implementation of climate change and natural resource management policies. Objective 3: Strengthened institutional capacity of ZELA to contribute to sustainable natural resource governance and climate change resilience. The intervention should result in poor and marginalised communities in Binga, Gutu and Gwanda becoming more resilient to climate change, improving their sustainable management of natural resources which will enhance their food security and move them towards poverty alleviation. The intervention should also result in the strengthening of ZELA at a time when it is paramount that local CSOs are capacitated and enhanced and are sustainable to meaningfully contribute to the country's development from an environmental lens.