Two major initiatives have been launched in Zimbabwe to support sustainable management of soil and water resources. The projects, titled “Capacity Development on Sustainable Soil Management in the Global South” and “National Water Roadmap towards 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” are designed to accelerate progress toward the SDGs by enhancing technical capacities, promoting inclusive governance, and fostering South-South cooperation.
The soil management project aims to strengthen national capabilities in soil mapping and laboratory analysis in developing countries. It encourages international technical collaboration and regional coordination to improve soil health and biodiversity. Meanwhile, the water roadmap project focuses on strengthening water governance in Zimbabwe by promoting awareness of water’s multidimensional value, advancing inclusive and cross-sectoral collaboration, and supporting sustainable water allocation—particularly in agriculture.
In Zimbabwe, FAO has supported the government with watershed mapping, catchment rehabilitation, and water-efficient irrigation methods, which have improved cereal yields by up to 25% in pilot areas. Additionally, under the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has contributed to soil fertility mapping over 200,000 hectares, provided guidance on balanced fertilizer use, and introduced conservation agriculture techniques that have reduced topsoil loss by 40%. Upgrades to the national soil lab and inoculant factory have further bolstered legume production.
At the regional level, FAO has worked with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to harmonize soil testing standards and implement climate-smart land management practices across six countries through the GEF-funded SOIL Care project. These actions reflect a unified vision for resource sustainability, based on equity, resilience, and efficiency, and supported by China’s South-South Cooperation.
Zimbabwe is the first country to begin implementing these two global soil and water programmes. Next steps include an inception workshop for the soil management project to finalize workplans and budgets, and the formation of a national taskforce for the water roadmap project, guided by technical frameworks from a Global Advisory Group.
