Food Security Overview

Zimbabwe is a landlocked, low income, food-deficit country. Its population of approximately 12 million has a life expectancy of 51 years, and the country ranks 173 out of 187 on the 2011 UNDP Human Development Index. The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) Urban Livelihoods Assessment indicates that a 70% of households still subsist below an appropriate consumption line. Prior to 2000, Zimbabwe was heralded as the breadbasket of Africa, however since then, the country has been devastated by a series of economic and political crises, and natural disasters, including the land reform programme and recurrent droughts. Zimbabwe is also severely affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, with a current prevalence rate of 13.7% (5th highest in the world) and an average of 1,000 lives lost each week. The prevalence of stunting is 34%, and the current number of orphans and vulnerable children is 1.6 million. In 2008, a protracted election period occurred against a background of politically motivated violence, which further exacerbated Zimbabwe's challenges. In February 2009, the formation of the new Unity Government brought political and economic changes, and legislation was passed to dollarise the economy. This brought an end to hyperinflation and had positive effects on food availability in the market. However, due to the longer-term impact of the currency crisis and the unprecedented disruption to livelihoods and income-earning opportunities, Zimbabwe continues to battle poor liquidity and high unemployment rates, estimated at over 60 percent. Even the “Short-Term Recovery Programme” aimed at revitalizing the economy has not yielded major changes. Politically, the country remains relatively stable, however, the elections widely expected in 2012/13 will influence the future course of the country. Economically, Zimbabwe continues to make progress with the continued use of multiple currencies, however challenges remain in attracting large-scale investment. The 2011 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) estimates that just over 1 million Zimbabweans are unable to meet their food requirements in the current lean season, which normally ends in March 2012 but is likely to be prolonged into April 2012 due to the late green harvest. Although subject to verification in the Second Round Crop

and Livestock Assessment, the First Round results are projecting a low yield for the 2011/12 summer cropping season. Zimbabwe faces another food deficit after one third of the current maize crop was declared a write-off following a dry spell in some parts of the country. The 2012 Consolidated Appeal Process indicated that Zimbabwe needs US$268 million in humanitarian assistance for programmes in food (the majority, 56%), health, nutrition and sanitation among other sectors.

Children receiving school meals in

Ambovombe District (South)

Zimbabwe 2012 Facts and Figures

Project Value: US$ 111,251,257

Beneficiaries: 1,500,000

Estimated population: 12.3 million Life expectancy at birth: 51.4 years Under 5 mortality rate: 94/1,000 live births Under 5 stunting rate: 34% Adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate: 13.7% Number of orphans: 1.6 million People living on less than US$1.25 per day: 56.1% People living below the national poverty line: 72% GDP per capita: US$313.9 Global Acute Malnutrition rate: 2.4% Chronically food insecure: 34% of households Primary school enrollment rate: 91% (national) 2011 Human Development Index rating: 173 out of 187

SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRIPLE THREAT is a lethal combination of chronic food insecurity, the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS and the weakening capacity of governments to meet social needs. Ending chronic hunger in the region is not simply a matter of food assistance:

long-term solutions that address education, life and job skills, and community development are needed.

A Safety Net beneficiary redeeming their

electronic voucher in Kuwadzana, Harare.

WFP Operations at a glance

Zimbabwe is expected to become a surplus producer again and to provide for the needs of vulnerable groups once political and economic conditions stabilize, agricultural production and markets recover, and economic decline is reversed. In the meantime, targeted food assistance is required to sustain vulnerable groups in food-insecure areas.

Assistance to Food Insecure Vulnerable Groups (PRRO 200162) seeks to increase the ability of vulnerable Zimbabweans to meet their food needs by providing food support, cash transfer or vouchers (where they appear to have a comparative advantage over food support) to complementary health, asset development, agricultural and education initiatives. In line with WFP’s Strategic Objectives 1, 3 and 5,

this PRRO focuses on four pillars for implementing food assistance activities in Zimbabwe: health and nutrition, social safety nets, seasonal targeted assistance and livelihood support activities. Social safety nets support the protection of livelihoods and strengthen resilience of the most vulnerable food insecure population who would normally require social protection mechanisms for support. The seasonal targeted assistance will offer support to transitory, shock-affected food insecure households. The livelihood support activities are cross-cutting, integrated in each of the other three activities and offering opportunities for graduation. In urban areas, an electronic voucher-based distribution mechanism is also implemented to assist beneficiaries supported under health & nutrition and social safety net programmes through a market retail distribution system, including market supplied food and retailers.

The operation is consistent with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Zimbabwe and contributes to Millennium Development Goals 1 and 6.

The project is valued at 241,616,495 USD, and will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012, supporting a total of 1,602, 501 beneficiaries with a total of 223,235 mt of food.

2012 Planned beneficiaries and food by operation

OPERATION

BENEFICIARIES

MT

PRRO 200162

1,500,000

105,423

\

\

Top donors: USA, Multilateral, UK, Japan, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Finland, Switzerland, CERF

CATEGORY

BENEFICIARIES

Health and Nutrition: Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

60,000 Health and Nutrition: Pre-ART

28,000

Health and Nutrition: TB Treatment 12,000

Planned beneficiaries by category for duration of project

Health and Nutrition: Home-based Care

40,000

Health and Nutrition: Mother and Child Health and

Nutrition (Mothers)

6,000

Health and Nutrition: Mother and Child Health and

Nutrition (Children)

4,000

Social safety nets: Orphans and Vulnerable Children

(OVC)

230,000

Social safety nets: Highly vulnerable households

140,000

Social safety nets: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

25,000

Social safety nets: Returnees

5,000

Seasonal targeted assistance: Food

920,000 Seasonal targeted assistance: Cash and food

50,000 Seasonal targeted assistance: Cash only

30,000

Last updated on 10 April 2012

CONTACT DETAILS Country Director: Felix Bamezon Information Officer: Tomson Phiri

Tel: +263 4 799215/20 Fax: +263 4 799219 Website: www.wfp.org