VIEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE

Zimbabwe

We’re working with 15 communities in Zimbabwe to ensure that development is informed by the perspectives of people most at risk.

1996

Random household surveys

150

Civil society surveys

150

Local government surveys

Key findings and conclusions at the national level

  • Engagement of communities in the assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of risk reduction plans and activities will ensure contextualisation and increase effectiveness
  • Engagement of communities most at risk, especially children and youth, is critical to community resilience building
  • Lack of access to information prevents effective community engagement

Surveys undertaken in Zimbabwe

Our Views from the Frontline surveys in Zimbabwe were undertaken in 2019.

Who was surveyed?

We surveyed 1,996 random households, 150 civil society organisations, 150 local government representatives, and undertook 80 community consultations.

Risk locations prioritised

We prioritised four risk areas:

  • Mashonaland East
  • Masvingo
  • Mashonaland Central
  • Matebeleland South

Communities surveyed

We surveyed people from 15 communities: Marondera, Murewa¸ Domboshava, Goromonzi, Masvingo, Chivi, Mupandawana, Gutu, Mbire, Muzabani, Mt Darwin, Matobo, Bietbridge¸ Gwanda and Gwanda Rural.

“Decision making is centralised at the national level, with few grassroots consultations.”

NAC representative, Zimbabwe

Our impact

Activities undertaken in response to community-level findings and conclusions

  • Mainstreamed climate change into local government policies by providing mitigation and adaptation training workshops, and establishing community-based ecosystem management systems
  • Provided all-stakeholder awareness training on ecosystem-based resilience for disaster risk reduction, and shared information in order to increase community participation
  • Lobbying and advocacy programmes for communities and government on their role in risk reduction and development planning

Impact of activities

  • A greater inclusion of communities, especially women and other vulnerable groups, in disaster-related risk reduction planning at the community level
  • Strengthened the information and knowledge base of community members to act on DRR issues in their locality
  • Improved disaster preparedness in communities, helping to reduce the impact of disasters on communities

Our project partners in Zimbabwe

Our Views from the Frontline programme is implemented by GNDR member organisations and partners in the country.

National coordinating organisation

  • Action 24

Partner organisations

  • Zero Regional Environment Organisation
  • Masvingo Centre for Research and Community Development
  • VSO Zimbabwe
  • Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum

View all data from Zimbabwe

You can view all our Views from the Frontline survey data using our data dashboard. You can also learn more about our methodology for selecting at-risk areas and survey respondents.

Project funded by

European Union

Our Views from the Frontline project is funded by the European Union (EU). Content related to this project on our website was made possible by the support of the EU. All content is the sole responsibility of GNDR and does not necessarily reflect the views of the EU.

View their website

Photo credit

Photo by DFAT on Flickr.