31/08/2026
Recently, members of our Embassy team visited communities supported by the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF), where we met farmers preparing for future climate shocks, including the impacts of recurring El Niño events, and visited conservation sites working to restore degraded land.
In these photos, a local farmer demonstrates practical techniques to protect soil moisture and safeguard crops during periods of drought, while a community conservationist presents a project designed to combat soil erosion and land degradation.
As Zimbabwe continues to experience increasingly severe climate pressures, including the drought conditions associated with El Niño, investments in climate adaptation and resilience are more important than ever. Ireland's development cooperation programme prioritises climate resilience, supporting vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change, strengthen livelihoods and sustainably manage natural resources.
The work of the ZRBF contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), helping communities improve food security, build resilience to climate shocks and protect the ecosystems on which their livelihoods depend.
The latest climate science highlights the urgency of this work. The IPCC has concluded that climate change is increasing the risks of drought, land degradation and food insecurity, while sustainable land management, soil conservation and locally led adaptation are among the most effective approaches for building resilience in vulnerable regions.
The ZRBF demonstrates how long-term partnerships, local knowledge and targeted investment can help communities prepare for climate variability, including El Niño-driven shocks, while creating pathways to more sustainable, resilient and prosperous futures.
United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
EU Delegation to Zimbabwe
