FAO, WFP, IFRC and Zimbabwe Government showcase progress on Anticipatory Action at learning event

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Stakeholders from across Zimbabwe are gathering for a two-day national learning event to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the implementation of a regional anticipatory action initiative aimed at reducing the impacts of climate-induced disasters.

Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with  the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Zimbabwe, the event marks the closure of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) -funded  project, “Building Capacity in Southern Africa to Enable Effective Disaster Risk Management Through Regional Systems for Inter-agency Anticipatory Action Using a Multi-Hazard, Multi-Sectoral Approach,” and celebrates a growing shift from crisis response to proactive risk management.

In his opening remarks, Nathan Nkomo, Director of the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), emphasized the importance of institutionalizing early action, “Anticipatory Action has moved from being a new idea to a national priority. We must now embed it within our local structures, from community to cabinet level. Saving lives and livelihoods starts with acting early, not reacting late.”

Over the past two years, the project has strengthened early warning systems, developed anticipatory action triggers, and fostered multi-sectoral coordination in the face of increasing climate risks. Through a series of pilot interventions s in high-risk districts including Beitbridge, Matobo, and Chipinge, project has demonstrated the value of acting ahead of climate-related hazards to safeguard lives and livelihoods. and implemented flood simulation exercises (SIMEX), forecast-based interventions, and inclusive community consultations.

Speaking on behalf of FAO, Tendai Munyokoveri, Assistant FAO Representative – Programmes highlighted the project’s transformative impact, “We have moved from planning to practice, building real systems that enable communities to act ahead of predictable climate shocks. A programme ends, but learning never stops.”

The workshop featured testimonials from farmers and local leaders, technical presentations, stakeholder engagement and policy discussions focused on the Zimbabwe Anticipatory Action Roadmap and Framework. The event also spotlights the Anticipatory Action Community of Practice (CoP) as a key innovation in driving multi-stakeholder collaboration, strengthening early action governance, and linking national policies with local realities.

Tsvagai Marovatsanga, Acting Director Local Government Services Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, welcomed participants with a call for open dialogue: “We are here to pool ideas, resources, and experiences, not just for now, but for posterity. Let us leave a mark that builds Zimbabwe’s resilience for future generations.”

The project’s success reflects strong coordination across government, UN agencies, NGOs, traditional leaders, and local authorities. Presentations underscored the integration of anticipatory action into development planning, disaster risk financing, spatial planning, and community-based early warning.

As the workshop continues into its second day, key outcomes will include the identification of scale-up strategies, funding opportunities, and concrete policy recommendations. FAO and partners reaffirmed their commitment to mobilizing technical support and resources to embed anticipatory action into national systems. “From early warning to early action, Zimbabwe is showing how it can be done,” said one participant.

What sets this event apart is the deliberate focus on institutional embedding and systems transformation. While the Ministry has emphasized progress on coordination and resilience, FAO and partners further showcased innovations such as spatial hazard mapping, district-level readiness protocols, and the integration of anticipatory action into agricultural planning processes. The project not only delivered field-level results, but also helped shape national policy dialogue, ensuring sustainability beyond the project’s closure.

As the initiative concludes, stakeholders are encouraged to seize this momentum-scaling up proven approaches, strengthening cross-sectoral coordination, and investing in national systems that enable early warning to translate into early action. The call is clear: to move from pilots to national practice, from reactive response to proactive preparedness-ensuring no community is left behind in the face of rising climate risks.