Clive Tatenda Makumbe in Zimbabwe
In the throes of Zimbabwe’s worst agricultural drought in over a century, a beacon of resilience shines through, courtesy of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Risk Financing initiatives.
The drought, driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon, has left millions in dire need of humanitarian assistance as food insecurity sweeps across the nation.
Over the 2023/2024 agricultural season, the country experienced delayed rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and scorching temperatures.
These adverse conditions crippled agricultural yields, leading to widespread crop failures and putting immense pressure on livestock farming due to poor pasture quality and water scarcity.
“Smallholder farmers have borne the brunt of this crisis,” said WFP Country Representative Ms. Victoria Nyanjura. “With 70 percent of our farmers reliant on rain-fed agriculture, the impacts of climate change are devastating both their livelihoods and food security.”
The government declared a state of emergency in response to the crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for relief measures.
In response to these catastrophic conditions, WFP Zimbabwe activated its innovative Risk Financing tools under the Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) Replica programme.
The payout of US$6.09 million to WFP was instrumental in providing early food assistance to 272,000 individuals across three of the most affected districts: Buhera, Mwenezi, and Mangwe.
“By September, we had already begun distributing food aid—months earlier than traditional systems would allow,” noted Ms. Nyanjura. “This proactive approach prevented worsening malnutrition and eased the suffering of thousands of families.”
In addition to WFP’s ARC payout, the Zimbabwean government and other partners received significant financial support. Combined, these efforts alleviated the immediate impacts of the drought while bolstering community resilience.
Across Southern Africa, the story of Risk Financing is one of hope. In Zambia, over 722,000 farming households received US$33.8 million in insurance payouts, marking the largest payout of its kind in Africa. Meanwhile, Malawi saw timely microinsurance support totaling US$1.27 million, aiding 52,500 farmers devastated by consecutive climate shocks, including Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
Despite these successes, gaps remain. WFP’s appeal for US$409 million in 2024 highlighted the enormous scale of the crisis. The current Risk Financing solutions mobilized US$11.47 million across Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, underscoring the urgent need to scale these initiatives.
“Risk Financing is more than a temporary solution; it’s a long-term investment in resilience,” emphasized Ms. Nyanjura. “By integrating these tools into broader strategies, we empower communities to better manage future climate shocks and reduce reliance on humanitarian aid.”
As Zimbabwe navigates the challenges of climate-induced disasters, initiatives like Risk Financing signal a transformative approach to safeguarding livelihoods and securing the future of its most vulnerable citizens.
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