FAO advances digital disease surveillance and human–wildlife risk mapping in Zimbabwe

Kadoma, Zimbabwe – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the European Union and the Government of Ireland-funded Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund Phase II (ZRBF 2), is strengthening Zimbabwe’s capacity to manage livestock disease risks and human–wildlife conflict through digital, geospatially enabled surveillance systems.

FAO recently conducted a multi-sectoral training for sub-national government officers on mobile Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing and digital field data collection, targeting districts with high exposure to livestock disease outbreaks and human–wildlife interaction.

The training brought together technical officers from seven high-risk districts in the Mid-Zambezi Valley (Binga, Hurungwe, Mbire and Kariba) and the South East Lowveld (Mwenezi, Beitbridge and Chiredzi), drawn from Veterinary Services, rural infrastructure development, rural local authorities and wildlife management institutions. The approach reinforced inter-sectoral collaboration in addressing risks that cut across animal health, ecosystems and livelihoods.

Participants were trained to integrate near real-time, georeferenced field data into routine government operations, moving away from paper-based systems that often delay analysis and response. Field-based practical sessions allowed participants to test the tools under real operating conditions, mirroring veterinary outbreak investigations, hazard mapping and community-level reporting.

“The initiative strengthens ongoing efforts to promote better human–wildlife coexistence by addressing climate-related and epizootic disease risks at wildlife–livestock interfaces,” said Themba Manjiva, FAO ZRBF Phase II Project Coordinator. “Shifting to digital, georeferenced tools significantly improves data quality, timeliness and operational use at both district and national levels.”

Participants highlighted the efficiency gains from digitisation, noting that valuable field data is already collected during routine work but is often underutilised due to fragmented, paper-based systems.

“Digital tools allow us to capture data once, accurately, and immediately link it to maps and decision-making processes,” said Chenjerai Zanamwe, Executive Officer (Agriculture and Natural Resources). “This fundamentally changes how we respond to risks on the ground.”

A key feature of the training was a training-of-trainers model, equipping district officers to cascade skills within their own institutions. This approach supports local ownership, sustainability and long-term institutionalisation of the tools beyond the project lifespan.

Participants also co-developed and refined the digital data collection application, ensuring it captures information relevant to livestock diseases, human–wildlife conflict, grazing pressure and community vulnerability. Officers were trained to collect precise geolocation data, enabling integration with land-use maps and Earth Observation products for advanced spatial analysis.

“When field data is linked with satellite and spatial information, it becomes a powerful decision-support tool,” said Phibion Chiwara, FAO Remote Sensing and GIS Specialist. “It allows institutions to identify hotspots, anticipate risks earlier and deploy resources more strategically.”

From training to field deployment and scale-up

Following the training, FAO will support government partners to finalise, validate and deploy the digital tools for routine field use, supported by district-led step-down trainings and a pilot phase. Lessons learned will inform scale-up and integration into national monitoring and early warning systems.

The initiative directly contributes to strengthening livestock disease surveillance, human–wildlife conflict mitigation and disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe, while advancing ZRBF Phase II objectives to build climate resilience, safeguard livelihoods and reduce humanitarian risk in vulnerable rural communities.