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Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe’s foreign policy is premised on the engagement and re-engagement drive, and it has stood out as a key pillar of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
On the 5th of July 2023, the World Food Programme Representative to Zimbabwe Ms Francesca Erdelmann and the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Satoshi Tanaka paid some courtesy calls to the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu respectively.
The Ministry has been working in collaboration with the World Food Programme in the implementation of several projects and in the implementation of a project entitled “Integrated Climate Risk Management for Food Security and Livelihoods in Zimbabwe focusing on Masvingo and Rushinga Districts”
The project has three key components whose focus is on, (i) the reduction of vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by communities, (ii) strengthening capacity and systems to support national and community adaptation, and (iii) management of climate risk based on climate forecast and information.
These project components align well with the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 on the Government’s call for the reduction of vulnerability by communities to the impacts of climate change.
As part of the fight against climate change the Ministry, through support from the Green Climate Fund is currently in the process of developing the National Adaptation Plan, which should be out by mid-year.
The Green Climate Fund project has supported the Meteorological Services Department to work on its climate database, capacity building of its officers in seasonal forecasting and implementation of the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA). All these activities contribute to improved weather and climate services for communities to enable them to adapt to climate change.
The Minister appreciated the technical and financial assistance received from Japan towards the development of Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTEs) focusing on 4 pilot projects namely, Gairezi eco-tourism, Tengenenge arts and crafts, Chesvingo Karanga village and Bulawayo township tourism. All these projects have the potential to contribute towards sustainable livelihood development, employment creation, community development and poverty alleviation of the Zimbabwe people in mainstream tourism activities.
The Minister also appreciated the collaboration between the Ministry and the World Food Programme in Zimbabwe.
The World Food Programme Representative Ms Francesca Erdelmann and the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Satoshi Tanaka applauded the recently launched Carbon Credit Framework for Zimbabwe. The Framework will see incomes from the carbon credits deposited into the National Climate Fund and channelled towards funding climate-friendly projects.