Zimbabwe

The country continues to face significant challenges related to poverty, food insecurity, climate change, and housing, despite recent improvements in agricultural production. Following improved rainfall and harvests during the 2025/26 agricultural season, food insecurity has declined significantly. However, approximately 1.2 million people are still expected to require food assistance during the 2026/27 lean season, particularly in drought-affected districts.

We Effect in Zimbabwe

We Effect has been actively engaged in Zimbabwe since 1984, working to improve the lives of those living in poverty, with a particular focus on rural areas, young people, and women.

Since establishing its country office in 1996, We Effect has supported local civil society organisations working in agriculture by strengthening value chains in dairy, horticulture, and oilseeds, while also promoting affordable finance models , including Internal Savings and Lending Schemes (ISALS), Local Economic Development (LED), and Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), as well as supporting housing initiatives.

These interventions strengthen livelihoods, improve market access, enhance financial inclusion, and empower communities through stronger member-based organisations.

From 1997 to 2009, the Zimbabwe office also served as the Regional Office for Southern Africa before relocating to Zambia. In 2013, We Effect rebranded from the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) to We Effect to better reflect its global mission and expanded focus.

Today, We Effect works primarily through local partner organisations, with direct implementation only in exceptional circumstances. We partner with 10 local organisations, including women’s rights organisations, member-based organisations, and local NGOs operating across almost all of Zimbabwe’s rural and urban provinces.

Our Funders
Our Main Donors have been Sida, Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa, Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe, EU, UKAID, and Swedish Lottery.

Development Context

Despite recent improvements in agricultural production, Zimbabwe continues to face significant socio-economic, environmental, and gender-related challenges that disproportionately affect rural communities, women, and young people.

Climate Change and Gender Equality

Climate variability continues to intensify through erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, floods, and storms. These climate-related hazards significantly affect agriculture, food production, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

Gender inequality further compounds these challenges, with disparities in reproductive health, economic participation, leadership, and access to productive resources.

Impact at a Glance

Results in Zimbabwe

Working through local partners, cooperatives, and member-based organisations, We Effect has delivered measurable results that strengthen livelihoods, resilience, gender equality, and economic opportunities.

Key achievements include:

• 52,000 rights holders supported: Through targeted interventions, We Effect strengthened the capacity of rights holders, improving their access to productive resources, knowledge, participation, and opportunities to claim their rights.
• 55 cooperatives and producer associations strengthened: We strengthened 55 cooperatives and commodity-based associations, improving governance, financial sustainability, member engagement, and market competitiveness.
• 43,800 women economically empowered: Women gained access to productive resources, financial services, skills development, markets, and leadership opportunities, contributing to stronger economic empowerment and gender equality.
• 46,000 farmers adopting climate-resilient agriculture: We Effect supported smallholder farmers to adopt climate-resilient and agroecological farming practices, improving food security, resilience, and environmental sustainability.
• 52,000 families strengthening sustainable livelihoods: Support provided by We Effect enabled approximately 52,000 households to improve their livelihoods through better access to productive resources, services, markets, and capacity-building opportunities.