The African Development Bank Group has approved a $25 million grant for Zimbabwe to support rural communities severely affected by climate change. The funding will be used to strengthen food security, revitalise smallholder agriculture, improve grazing systems, and develop water resources, while also encouraging private sector participation in climate-resilient agriculture.
The initiative, funded through the Bank’s Transition Support Facility, will be implemented under the Agricultural Climate Resilient and Vulnerability Reduction Project (ACRES) from 2026 to 2030. It targets two of Zimbabwe’s most climate-vulnerable provinces, Masvingo and Matabeleland South, where communities face persistent droughts, declining rainfall, and high dependence on livestock farming.
The project is expected to directly benefit 92,500 vulnerable smallholder farmers, with at least half being women and 20 percent youth. These communities currently face severe food insecurity, poverty, and limited livelihood opportunities, which often lead to irregular migration. In addition, around 200,000 people in surrounding areas are expected to benefit indirectly through improved infrastructure, better nutrition, and enhanced economic stability.
ACRES will also generate employment opportunities, creating an estimated 320 full-time jobs and 2,100 seasonal jobs across crop and livestock value chains, helping to stimulate rural economies while improving resilience to climate shocks.
According to the African Development Bank, the investment is a critical step toward reducing vulnerability and strengthening climate resilience in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. The project is designed to enhance adaptive capacity and promote sustainable economic opportunities in some of the country’s most at-risk regions.
The Bank has long supported Zimbabwe’s rural development efforts, and this new initiative further strengthens its commitment to climate-smart agriculture and agricultural infrastructure, reinforcing the government’s focus on building a more resilient and food-secure future.
