From Fragility to Resilience: Zimbabwe’s Stakeholders Shape the Future of Agriculture”

On a crisp January morning in Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s agricultural stakeholders convened for a workshop that could redefine the country’s rural future. The occasion? The Stakeholder Validation Workshop for the Resilient Agriculture Cluster Project (RACP), a flagship initiative supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The tone was set early. “Colleagues, we are here to validate the RACP project design,” said the AfDB Country Manager. “We welcome you to actively provide comments and input into this important process.”

A Project Born of Urgency and Collaboration

Zimbabwe’s climate vulnerability is acute. “Africa is the least climate-resilient region,” the remarks noted, “with the lowest climate readiness and the weakest adaptation capacity.” The impacts are most severe for “vulnerable women, children and elderly,” exacerbated by “heavy reliance on natural resources, subsistence rainfed agriculture and low adaptive capacities.”

RACP is designed to address these challenges head-on. “A USD 9.4 million grant was approved to co-finance the ongoing IFAD-funded Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project,” the remarks stated. The goal? “Reducing fragility, strengthening climate resilience, nutrition outcomes, and institutional capacity in climate-vulnerable rural areas.”

Validation as a Democratic Process

The workshop was not a rubber stamp—it was a democratic forum. “Your valued input is solicited to improve project design,” said the AfDB Country Manager. The emphasis was on inclusion, transparency, and responsiveness.

Listening, Reform, Partnership, Solutions

The new AfDB President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, has articulated a development philosophy grounded in four principles:

• Listening: Engaging stakeholders meaningfully
• Reform: Strengthening institutions
• Partnership: Building coalitions
• Solutions: Delivering impact

“These principles are the basis for development interventions,” the Country Manager affirmed. “The RACP project is designed to align with them.”

Field Verification and Institutional Ownership
The project design is not theoretical—it’s grounded in reality. “The appraisal team has widely consulted Government and stakeholder institutions,” the remarks noted. “The team has also undertaken field verification visits to potential project sites.”

This hands-on approach ensures that RACP is not just technically sound but socially responsive. “We expect your continued participation during project implementation,” the Country Manager urged.

Mobilizing Resources for Impact

“The Bank wishes to reiterate its commitment to continue mobilizing internal and external resources,” the remarks stated. The goal is clear: “Ensure Zimbabwe offers development to its farming community.”

This commitment is not just financial—it’s philosophical. “Let’s work together to move Zimbabwe forward,” the Country Manager concluded.

Conclusion: A Future Worth Validating

As the workshop drew to a close, the message was unmistakable: RACP is not just a project—it’s a promise. A promise to listen, to reform, to partner, and to deliver solutions. A promise to validate not just a design, but a vision for a climate-resilient Zimbabwe.