Zimbabwe

Country Projects

Climate change is bringing about a greater incidence of droughts, cyclones, floods, hailstorms and heat waves to Zimbabwe. The negative impacts of these extreme weather events are likely to stall the country’s development. They pose serious risks to key sectors for the national economy, such as agriculture, forestry and water resources. Since 2018, UN CC:Learn has been working with the Zimbabwean government and other stakeholders in the country to improve the capacities and skills of individuals and institutions to tackle this challenge.

Towards a National Climate Change Learning Strategy

Our work in Zimbabwe has the specific aim of strengthening the learning and skills development needed to bring to fruition the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

We are building on the knowledge and experience of other UN CC:Learn country work, particularly Malawi and Zambia, and collaborating with MIET Africa, an education NGO that works with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments to support the provision of quality education in the SADC region.

As a first step towards developing a national climate change learning strategy, a background report was produced. It sets out:

  • national policy priorities, initiatives and institutions relevant for climate change capacity development in Zimbabwe,
  • the key stakeholders for climate change learning,
  • a review of past and on-going climate change learning initiatives in Zimbabwe, and
  • recommendations for next steps.

View the background report available in English below:

The following documents also aim to contribute to building a Zimbabwean climate learning strategy:

The National Climate Change Learning Strategy can be found below:

Turning the Strategy into Actions

Zimbabwe launched its National Climate Change Learning Strategy in January 2021. Some of the implementation activities already undertaken are:

Strengthening the Capacity of Rural Youth

Implemented by the Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change in partnership with the Climate Change Management Department, with co-finance from ACT Alliance Zimbabwe,  this programme raised the awareness of rural youth and youth groups on climate change and its impacts, as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies, and improved their ability to clearly interpret, understand, communicate and respond to climate change issues. It targeted ten rural districts in eight provinces of Zimbabwe, reaching out to more than 600 youths from different wards, such as farmers, high school students, student interns from universities, youth community leaders and selected youth individuals passionate about the environment.

Mainstreaming Climate Change into Teacher Training in Zimbabwe

A technical workshop was organized with different stakeholders to discuss best ways to integrate climate change into the teacher education curriculum. Entry points for integrating climate change into teacher education were identified, along with standard resources and materials required by teacher training institutions, teachers and pupils to advance climate change learning in Zimbabwe. Stakeholders agreed to review the curriculum every five years to incorporate any new or emerging climate change issues and develop syllabi that address the identified needs. Participants also emphasized that there is a need to build capacity of teachers. An online training for over 100 teachers in Zimbabwe was organized and internet data was procured for them to follow five online courses on climate change offered under the UN CC:Learn initiative.

Climate Diplomacy Training 

In preparation for COP 28, a week-long “Climate Diplomacy Programme for Zimbabwe Negotiators” training was designed and delivered to 58 negotiations through collaboration with UN CC:Learn and the NDC Partnership, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe from the 30 October – 3 November 2023.

Two key recommendations that came out from the workshop were the importance of having more training sessions to go in-depth into key topics and the need to get more people trained, regardless of their participating in climate change conferences, such as COPs. Participants received their Certificates of Participation.

Youth Climate Dialogues

Youth from Zimbabwe participated in several YCDs organized with young people from other countries.

Our National Partners

Our work in Zimbabwe is implemented under the leadership of the Climate Change Management Department in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism & Hospitality Industry, with participation and contributions from stakeholders from different sectors and support from the United Nations Development Programme.

Project News and Activities

Empowering Zimbabwe: Navigating Climate Negotiations with COP28 in Focus
3 November 2023 I Bulawayo,  Zimbabwe

Driving Climate Action in Southern Africa through Radio
3 August 2023 I Zimbabwe

Radio Listening Habits to Boost Climate Action in Southern Africa        
11 June 2021 I Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Has Launched its National Climate Change Learning Strategy, Cementing the Country’s Commitment to Advancing Climate Literacy    
26 February 2021 I Harare, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Takes the Road to Raise Climate Change Awareness among the Country’s Rural Youth
31 November – 19 December 2020 I Zimbabwe

The TV and Radio programs that are changing the way Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe address climate change
14 December 2020 I Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi

Zimbabwe Validates and Finalizes their National Climate Change Learning Strategy 
11 September 2020 I Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Develops its National Climate Change Learning Strategy Action Plan
13-14 February 2020 | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Takes the First Step to Enhance Climate Change Learning
21-22 October 2019 | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe