Staff Reporter
In a landmark partnership set to impact over one million people nationwide, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have joined hands to launch a wide-reaching humanitarian initiative aimed at tackling early pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health, drug abuse, and food insecurity in Zimbabwe.
Sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Harare recently, the collaboration is designed to complement government efforts by connecting key pillars of development, linking food security with reproductive health, nutrition with protection, and dignity with empowerment. The initiative will focus on rural communities, where vulnerabilities are often most pronounced.
“This year alone, during the lean season, WFP supported nearly one million people, many of whom were pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five.
“Going forward, whether during crisis response or resilience-building, we want to tailor distribution days to specifically serve vulnerable groups more effectively,” said WFP Country Director Barbara Clemens.
Through this partnership, the UN agencies aim to provide more than just food. The programme will deliver critical information and services related to family planning, gender-based violence prevention, and adolescent reproductive health, particularly to women and girls at high risk.
UNFPA Country Representative Miranda Tabifor stressed the urgent need to address long-standing social issues.
“We want to reach a point where teenage pregnancy is no longer a reality in any community. By embedding these services into food distribution points, we create an accessible channel for spreading vital information and support,” she said.
The project aligns with national strategies and will strengthen ongoing initiatives led by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, as well as the Ministry of Health and Child Care. By working together, these organisations are creating a comprehensive safety net for communities facing multiple layers of vulnerability.
The initiative is also being applauded for its strategic approach to maximising impact amid growing constraints on donor funding. By integrating humanitarian responses and development goals, the WFP-UNFPA alliance stands out as a model of cost-effective, community-driven progress.
As Zimbabwe continues to face complex social and economic challenges, this joint programme offers a beacon of hope for more inclusive, empowered, and resilient communities especially for women and children who too often fall through the cracks.
