FAO and Government of Zimbabwe set to implement new five year Country Programming Framework
HARARE, 5 December 2022 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Zimbabwe today signed the new five year Country Programming Framework (CPF). The goal of the 2022 – 2026 CPF is to achieve efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems, and management of natural resources. The signing ceremony was officiated by Honourable Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative to Zimbabwe.
The ceremony was held in the presence of a high-level delegation of Senior Government officials, this included the two Deputy Ministers, Hon. Vangelis Haritatos and Hon. Davis Marapira as well the Permanent Secretary Dr. John Basera and FAO colleagues in Zimbabwe.
“This CPF is a convergence of Zimbabwe’s expressed developmental needs and FAO’s technical mandate. FAO expresses its commitment to supporting the Government and the people of Zimbabwe through officially signing this strategic document,” said Patrice Talla in his remarks during the signing ceremony.
Anchored on the Zimbabwe United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (ZUNSDCF) and the National Development Strategy 1, the CPF will deliver integrated support in three priority areas: (1) Promotion of inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems to address food security and nutrition; (2) Building resilience to climate change, agricultural threats, and crisis; and (3) Sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection.
“Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the approval and endorsement of implementation of this CPF for the next five years. This signing ceremony hereby demonstrates and affirms the commitment of the Government of Zimbabwe in implementation of this CPF. This CPF belongs and will be implemented in the interests of the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” said Honourable Dr Masuka in his remarks during the ceremony.
The CPF is derived from the ZUNSDCF, fully aligned with the government’s National Development Strategy 1 and the country’s Agenda 2030 which falls within FAO’s strategic framework and country priorities. The CPF was developed through a thoroughly inclusive and participatory process including sessions with various government departments, development partners, civil society organisations, multilateral organisations, research institutions, academia, farmer organisations and the private sector.
During the ceremony, FAO presented to the Minister the projected implementation plan of the five year CPF. Through the CPF, FAO will roll out interventions aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, value addition, access to markets, technology, finance, and income opportunities while making efforts to promote youth engagement, as well as supporting the diverse roles and inclusion of women, and other groups vulnerable to socioeconomic risks in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.
To effectively implement the CPF, resource mobilization and communication strategies are being developed, together with a monitoring and evaluation framework for tracking progress during implementation.