Integrating livestock interventions in nationally determined contributions of Zimbabwe
FAO organizes a new national stakeholder workshop to discuss new opportunities to integrate livestock-related interventions in Zimbabwe’s national climate actions.
©Brent Stirton/Getty Images for FAO, CIRAD, CIFOR, WCS
Zimbabwe is affected by direct and indirect impacts of climate change. It has experienced severe livestock losses due to recurring droughts, heatwaves, and tropical cyclones, such as Cyclone Idai, which resulted in flooding and landslides in 2019. The livestock sector plays a crucial socio-economic role, especially for rural livelihoods and food security. Cattle, owned by 88 percent of smallholder farmers, are the most important livestock species.
Simultaneously, livestock-related activities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in Zimbabwe’s Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. Emissions result from forest land conversion to grassland and methane emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management systems.
Zimbabwe’s climate actions
Zimbabwe has identified priority measures for the livestock sector in its nationally determined contribution (NDC). These priorities include developing, implementing, and scaling up climate-smart agriculture solutions. Efforts will also focus on strengthening the resilience of agricultural value chains and markets, incorporating measures such as climate-adapting livestock breeds, improved livestock management, and enhanced fodder production and feeding strategies.
To address climate change in the livestock sector, the FAO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate, and Rural Resettlement of Zimbabwe, is implementing a Flexible Voluntary Contributions (FVC) Subprogramme on “Scaling up climate actions to enhance nationally determined contributions, climate, and livestock.” This subprogramme supports countries in enhancing mitigation and adaptation measures in the livestock sector, boosting climate resilience, food security, and livelihood. The FAO and the ministry are organizing a national stakeholder consultation workshop to identify opportunities to raise the ambitions of the livestock-related interventions and targets in the NDC.
About the workshop
The workshop is scheduled to take place in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, from November 14 to 16, 2023. It will gather multiple stakeholders from livestock, agriculture, and climate domains to explore their roles and responsibilities in addressing climate change in the livestock sector in the country. The workshop aims to raise awareness of the role of livestock in climate change, enhance stakeholders' knowledge of mitigation and adaptation measures, and identify challenges, opportunities, and capacity development needs for implementing climate action along livestock value chains.
The workshop also aims to strengthen collaboration and institutional arrangements among livestock stakeholders. During the event, participants will identify options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock systems and enhance climate resilience. Additionally, the workshop will take stock of initiatives, projects, and programs that support climate action in livestock systems.