The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $10.12 million grant from its concessional window, the African Development Fund, to support a major agricultural resilience initiative in Zimbabwe.
The grant will finance the Zimbabwe Agricultural Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project (AVCLEP), aimed at transforming agriculture in drought-prone regions while strengthening climate resilience and food security.
Targeting some of the country’s most vulnerable areas, AVCLEP will directly benefit 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers and 42,000 smallholder and crop farmers in Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province—regions with high livestock populations but deeply affected by recurring droughts, floods, and climate shocks.
In total, more than 90,000 community members are expected to benefit indirectly through improved water supply, veterinary care, and sustainable livelihood programs.
“This investment represents a critical intervention to build climate resilience and improve food security in Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable agricultural communities,” said Moono Mupotola, Deputy Director General for Southern Africa and Country Manager for Zimbabwe at the African Development Bank.
“By rehabilitating existing infrastructure and introducing climate-smart agricultural practices, the project will transform livelihoods in areas that have historically suffered from drought and limited access to water resources.”
The project is designed to enhance sustainable crop and livestock productivity, improve market access, and strengthen value chain integration for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector.
Activities will include rehabilitating dip tanks, developing solar-powered boreholes, restoring landscapes, and supporting integrated land-use planning and catchment management to improve water security.
With implementation scheduled to begin in June 2025 and run through December 2029, AVCLEP is also expected to create 200 full-time and 2,800 seasonal jobs along the agricultural value chain.
Average monthly household income is projected to rise from $85 to $120, driven by improved market access, productivity, and value-added services.
“This project will enhance adaptive capacity, promote sustainable economic opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of rural communities to climate change within the target areas,” said Martin Fregene, Director of the Bank’s Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department.
“We look forward to working with all key stakeholders during the project implementation, to drive impactful solutions in the target areas which have been negatively affected by climate change.”
AVCLEP also places strong emphasis on inclusion, with at least 50% of direct beneficiaries being women and 20% youth.
In addition to physical infrastructure, the project includes extensive capacity building, knowledge management, and social inclusion initiatives to promote technical skills, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
Backed by years of sustained support from the African Development Bank, Zimbabwe’s rural development efforts are gaining momentum.
This latest grant reflects the Bank’s continued commitment to helping the country reduce poverty, boost food security, and build a more climate-resilient agricultural economy.
