Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southeast Africa. Most of the country lies on a high central plateau with mountains in the east. Zimbabwe has a predominantly subtropical climate, but the south is known for its extreme heat whilst the eastern highlands have cooler temperatures.  Zimbabwe is considered to have high vulnerability and a very high lack of adaptive capacity according to the 2023 World Risk Index. 

The key climate change impacts expected in Zimbabwe are water- and food-security related, as well as the health impacts from vector and waterborne diseases (UNDP, n.d.). Between 1970 and 2016 Zimbabwe’s mean annual temperature increased about 0.3˚C per year (World Bank Group, 2021). Zimbabwe’s temperature is expected to increase between 1˚C -1.5˚C by 2040 from a 1986-2005 baseline depending on the emission scenario (ibid.). Average rainfall is projected to decrease by 10% in this period, however there is more uncertainty with these estimates (GRID Geneva, n.d.). At the same time, intense rainfall leading to flooding is expected to increase. 80% of agriculture – accounting for 67% of total employment in the country – is rainfed, making it one of the sectors most vulnerable to the effects of climate change (World Bank Group, 2021). By 2050, Zimbabwe is projected to have a 38% decrease in national water availability per capita because of climate change which is expected to have severe knock-on effects for agriculture, power generation, health, tourism, and the country’s wildlife species (ibid.). 

Zimbabwe has submitted the third version of its NDC with a plan for 2025-2035 (Government of Zimbabwe, 2025) in which it outlines that adaptation is its policy goal for the next decade. Zimbabwe is implementing various projects with national and international funding. Alng with the Green Climate Fund Zimbabwe is focusing on projects related to Renewable Energy, Integrated Waste Management, Forestry, Agriculture, and DRR (Government of Zimbabwe, 2021). 

CARE began working in Zimbabwe in 1992 in response to a severe regional drought and later expanded its programming to address longer-term development issues with a focus on economic development. Currently, CARE Zimbabwe has a diverse program focused on various areas, namely food and nutrition security and climate resilient livelihoods.

CARE Zimbabwe’s initiatives are based n the CARE’s SuPER (Sustainable, Productive, Profitable, Equitable and Resilient) principles. With CARE’s support, communities can strengthen their capacities to produce nutrition-sensitive food and income from sources other than farming. Other complementary implementation models include Community Based Adaptation, Women Empowerment Model and Social Action and Analysis, Disaster Risk Reduction as well as Participatory Scenario Planning.