Zimbabwe fact sheet

Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, providing livelihood opportunities for 70% of its 16.6 million population and generating 40% of export earnings. However, many people face social inequity, underemployment, and climate risks. Over one million farmers depend on rain-fed crops, which increases their vulnerability to recurrent droughts, floods, and climate-induced pests. While inclusive land and decentralisation reforms advance, weak coordination and fragmented service delivery persist. The push to formalise micro-enterprises amid volatile monetary policy exposes small businesses to risk, deepening marginalisation for women and youth.

SNV has operated in Zimbabwe since 1983, leveraging trusted government and private sector partnerships to contribute to systemic, locally led, market-based solutions across the agri-food, water, and energy sectors—supporting over 6,600 young people into better employment opportunities since 2019.

Zimbabwe’s intersecting challenges call for systems transformation by advancing climate-resilient approaches, developing resilient and equitable value chains, and strengthening local institutions to coordinate fragmented services and drive social inclusion. As the country pursues Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 & 2 (NDS), SNV and its partners remain committed to building equitable, resilient systems by improving policies, scaling access to finance, and stimulating inclusive markets that empower local actors, promote climate-smart livelihoods, and enable communities to thrive in a more equitable economy.

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