Gender Links: Promoting Gender Inclusive Local Economic Development in Zimbabwe

1. To develop and cost 12 gender responsive local economic development plans. GLZ worked with local councils to develop and cost gender responsive local economic development plans for all the 12 local councils. This resulted in increased allocation of resources towards local economic activities from 4% to 6%. A market research study further recommended that some economic activities be set up as business units to promote the commercialisation of informal work previously done by selected vulnerable women, youth, and men. GLZ working together with the local councils set up the various infrastructure and provided seed capital according to the business needs. Gender Links and the participating local authorities established frameworks for mutual support and resource sharing. Results showed that Councils committed 6% of their 2024 budgets against a target of 10% for local economic projects developments. All local councils met at least 50% of the gender inclusion parameters which include equal access to employment opportunities, appropriate financial services and new technologies. Additionally, the programme incorporated the private sector who provided inputs and technical services including standard operating procedures (SOPs) required for optimum production according to the value chains e.g. Dempac (mushroom) and Total Farm Solutions (Horticulture). 2. To ensure that womenowned enterprises have access to council procurement including tenders. To ensure that women owned businesses have access to council procurement, including tenders, GLZ worked with the local council to develop a gender responsive procurement manual which local councils have adopted and now using in their budgeting. GLZ further strengthened the locals councils through training in utilising the manual. It then carried an analysis of 2025 council budgets which showed that the manual has been adopted and now in local government policy. The results showed that 4% of tenders were allocated to women against a target of 10%. More systemic interventions need to be done to close policy gaps that still exist in 9 of the 12 centres and improve access for microtenders (under $5,000) by women. 3. To walk the talk by establishing viable LED flagship enterprises in 12 local authorities that create jobs in nontraditional areas for women and buttress the entrepreneurship training. A total of 12 infrastructural projects were set up with a 23% contribution from the local councils surpassing their 20% target. A total of 663 were direct beneficiaries out of a target of 1800 by end of the project. Focus will be to scale up successful models such as Kariba market, waste management and renewable energy throughout grower models to increase number of direct beneficiaries of the enterprises. Furthermore, all councils have signed commitments to continue supporting the enterprises, most of which are housed within council premises. 4. To create a sustainable model for training and supporting women entrepreneurs in 12 local authorities. GLZ worked with the 12 local councils and trained 663 (330F, 101M, 262Y) entrepreneurs to enhance their entrepreneurial success and empowerment focusing on viability, profitability, growth, financial literacy, marketing strategies and leadership and governance. This resulted in two out of the 12 Enterprises formalizing their business through registration whilst others are at various stages of the registration process. 5. To enhance women and youths access to finance, markets, and joint ventures through women LED networks learning and sharing platforms. GLZ LED program provided guidance on securing funding and microloans with a total of 291 entrepreneurs accessing at least $15,000 in loans through ISALs. GLZ worked with Murewa Waste management enterprise to establish and strengthen its Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) for financial stability. ISALS funds are generated from individual members of the group by making periodic contributions to the income pool and members borrow on agreed interest rates. Through the (ISALS) program over 5 months Murewa Waste Management Enterprise managed to gain interest of USD 210 and disbursed loans to participants valued at USD 705 increasing access to finance for various women businesses. Eastern Mushroom accumulated USD 3104 as group savings for 2024. A total 63 trade shows were hosted improving market linkages of businesses. 12 functional LED forums (committees with value chain actors such as market, finance and policy) were established to be self-sustaining business ecosystems.

The application for funding support submitted by GLZ is titled Promoting Gender Inclusive Local Economic Development (LED) in Zimbabwe. The programmes overall objective is to reduce poverty and enhance livelihoods through gender-responsive and inclusive local economic development in selected 12 Centres of Excellence in local government. Specific objectives 1. To develop and cost 12 gender-responsive local economic development plans. 2. To ensure that women-owned enterprises have access to council procurement including tenders. 3. To walk the talk by establishing viable LED flagship enterprises in 12 local authorities that create jobs in non-traditional areas for women and buttress the entrepreneurship training. 4. To create a sustainable model for training and supporting women entrepreneurs in 12 local authorities. 5. To enhance women and youths access to finance, markets, and joint ventures through women LED networks; learning and sharing platforms. At the core of the project is enterprise development of the marginalised groups of women in 12 selected local authorities, particularly women that are victims and survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The stated project objectives are interlinked and aim to address both the women's rights as well as economic empowerment of vulnerable women. This makes it a good fit with the values of Sida as well as the focus of Sweden's 2022-2026 strategy for development cooperation for Zimbabwe as far as economic inclusivity is concerned. The aim will be to create Improved opportunities for productive employment and decent work as given by the second sub-objective in the strategy area of support 3.