By Cathleen Muchena
Bulawayo – In the heart of Southern Africa, where drought and disaster have become more frequent visitors, Zimbabwe is rewriting the script of crisis response.
This week, over 50 key stakeholders gathered in Bulawayo for a landmark End-of-Project Technical Review and Lessons Learnt Event, capping off a two-year EU-funded initiative aimed at building national resilience through anticipatory action.
At the centre of this transformation stands the ECHO-funded project, implemented by FAO, WFP, and IFRC, which has revolutionized disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe.
Using a multi-hazard, multi-sectoral approach, the project strengthened early warning systems, established anticipatory action (AA) frameworks, and brought communities into the decision-making process.
The goal? To act before disasters strike—and in doing so, save lives and protect livelihoods.
“In Zimbabwe, anticipatory action is proving that timely intervention can reduce suffering,” said Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
“This isn’t just policy—it’s people-focused preparedness with measurable, life-changing results.”
Over the course of two years, the ECHO project developed harmonized early warning triggers, streamlined multi-actor coordination mechanisms, and scaled up disaster risk financing. These systems allowed the government to implement a $28 million anticipatory action plan in advance of the devastating 2023–2024 El Niño-induced drought, the worst in more than 40 years.
Real Impact, Real Lives
In her address, Judith Ncube, Minister of State for Bulawayo, emphasized the human impact behind the numbers:
“What gives me hope is not just the policies we’ve aligned with or the plans on paper. It’s the farmer in Matabeleland who, thanks to early warnings, harvested just enough to feed her family. It’s the teacher who opened school doors to feed hungry children. These stories are why we’re here.”
This human-centered approach guided the government’s $3.3 billion humanitarian appeal: $2 billion was dedicated to emergency response, while $1.3 billion targeted long-term resilience building.
The Blitz Food Distribution Programme ensured that the elderly, orphans, persons with disabilities, and remote communities were not left behind.
“Behind the numbers are real people,” echoed Minister of Local Government Daniel Garwe. “This is what human-centered disaster response looks like: swift, inclusive, and built on compassion.”
A major success of the ECHO project has been the establishment of the Anticipatory Action Community of Practice (CoP)—a collaborative platform bringing together government, UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and local voices.
“Behind every successful intervention lies a collaboration of hearts and minds,” said Kallon. “Together, we are rewriting the rules of disaster risk management.”
Participants praised the AA Community of Practice for institutionalizing anticipatory action at provincial and district levels, linking local actors directly to national policy-making through Civil Protection Committees.
The event showcased the breadth of progress through testimonials from farmers, video documentaries from Matabeleland South and Chibuwe, and breakout discussions on key project deliverables like the Anticipatory Action Roadmap and flood simulation exercises (SIMEX).
From scaling disaster risk financing to building local capacity and enhancing coordination, Zimbabwe’s experience is now being held up as a regional blueprint for climate-smart disaster response.
“Let us act not only in response but in anticipation,” said Minister Garwe. “Because the future belongs to those who prepare for it.”
As climate shocks intensify, the lessons from Zimbabwe are clear: acting early works. And thanks to the EU-funded ECHO project, communities, institutions, and systems are better equipped than ever before.
This isn’t just an end-of-project review. It’s the beginning of a new era in disaster risk management, one that puts information, financing, and humanity at the center of the response.
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