Achieving Triple Nexus Programming

03 06 08 17 Bumper Harvest - What Providing emergency Danish philanthropy The role of technology Bumper Harvest? food Aid in Lupane in Matobo in the 21st Century

May 2021 Editors Corner protracted economic crisis. Con- crisis is on its own disempower- sequently, it became the theme ing, and has created additional of this edition. To some, the nex- vulnerabilities for Zimbabweans. us is limited to the intersection Reports of an estimated five thou- Patience Ukama of food-water-energy, informed sand unintended pregnancies by the physiological hierarchy in children of school-going age, Reflections on the tropi- of needs, the SDGs, and Agen- means further disruption to and cal cyclones in January, da 2030. It is easy to see why. de-prioritisation of education in fa- after years of devastating Increasing costs of energy have vour of fast-track adult and parent- droughts, record rainfall, rapidly impacted on the rate of hood. Stark inequality resulted in the complete shutdown of deforestation in both urban and most learners in Zimbabwe being industry, loss of income at rural environs, leading to en- forced to defer their education and household level, reduced croachment on wetlands, further stay home, because of poor infra- global development funding, upsetting the natural ecology structure and energy - i.e., Devel- the continued economic cri- which has directly impacted food- opment. No doubt, this will come sis, locust infestations, and water-(and)energy, demanding back to haunt us in years to come. this season’s bumper maize humanitarian, development, and It is my hope that this second edition harvest, provoked reflection peace interventions. Thus, the tri- of the DanChurchAid Oracle is both on the Nexus Approach to ple nexus approach. In DCA, the insightful, and that through these programming. Connecting nexus is applied with an appreci- pages DCA’s nexus approach will development, humanitarian, ation that traditionally women and become clear, as will the need for and the peace pillars is an girls have played a significant role multi-year financing for programmes. intentional strategy through in fetching water, food production which DanChurchAid (DCA) and processing, at household aims to assist communities level. The ability to undertake Editor to build long-term resilience these tasks has been hampered by implementing nuanced by security threats from exter- programming in response nal forces; domestic partners; to different situations and and society at large. Chronic environments. It is global- droughts, macro-economic chal- ly applied in situations of lenges and the outbreak of the chronic vulnerability, which novel COVID-19 pandemic have unfortunately is the condi- magnified challenges. The de- tion of most communities mand to meet family needs and in Zimbabwe due to the to recover from the multi-layered

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THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 Bumper Harvest - What Bumper Harvest?

The narrative of a bumper tions such as HIV, hypertension harvest has firmly gripped etc. Market systems were gravely most spheres within and be- disrupted, creating surplus within yond Zimbabwe. In many some value chain systems, that circles it now serves as the were not delivered to markets. premise to the eradication This meant that vendors were of poverty, propelled by sig- unable to offload fresh fruits and nificant economic growth. vegetables to the market during Among the adherents to this lockdown. As a result, many in- script is the World Bank which formal traders experienced sig- predicts economic growth of Sunflower crops in Lupane nificant loss of income, exacer- 2.9% attributed to an agricul- ening levels of food insecurity. As- bating their already vulnerable tural bumper harvest. Indeed, sertions concurred by the ZimVac economic situations. DCA part- Zimbabwe is anticipating a 2021 report which published, an ner, Bulawayo Vendors and Trad- maize harvest of over two (2) increase in the number of vulner- ers Association (BVTA) President million tonnes. An increase in able people from 2.2 to 2.4 million , Mr Aleck Ndlovu said, “Vendors food production of 200% from attributable to the COVID-19 pan- faced serious challenges when the 2019/20 farming season demic and the economic collapse. the pandemic struck. Especially However, this argument as- Cumulative COVID-19 restrictions due to the crippling boarder clo- sumes not only consistent resulted in an over 50% decrease sures. The pandemic disrupted maize yields across the coun- in household income. Ordinary citi- their livelihoods and led to the try, but consistent income for zens had no means to survive, and collapse of many businesses, most citizens. This is not the far fewer opportunities for casual or restocking challenges, depletion case. While Nyanga received day labour to earn the income need- of meagre savings, and failure 1200mm of rain, some areas ed to buy food for their families. Sup- to pay rates and rentals, as well in Matabeleland South re- ply chain and transport deficiencies as biting hunger experienced by ceived 700 mm, and places hampered progress in addressing thier families.” For many families, like Chiredzi and Mwenezi hunger, malnutrition, and access it will take more than one sea- District grappled with a locust to medication for pre-existing condi sons bumper harvest to recover infestation, resulting in crop from this one seasons hardships. losses. In as much as varying rainfall patterns result in varied yields, COVID-19 magnified the poverty situation for the most vulnerable. In Zim- babwe, one-third more people were affected by food insecurity in 2021, than they were 2020. This according to Pri- mate’s World Relief and De- velopment Fund (PWRDF), with whose support DanChur- chAid provided emergency food aid to 3600 people in Lupane. This amounted to twice as many people confronting potentially life-threat- Mbuya Mushunguruko at home shelling her maize after harvest Page 3 May 2021 Midlo Dam Finally Reaches capacity following 2020/21 Rains

In December 2018, the Zim- babwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Sizimele project - in which DCA is the lead partner - came to the rescue of Matobo’s, Ward 14, Emad- waleni community in Matobo, Matabeland, through the reconstruction of the 800,000m³ Midlo dam, at a cost of US$60,000. Constructed in 1952, the dam provided water for domestic purposes, crop irrigation, and livestock. Midlo Dam in Ward 14 Emadwaleni, Matobo district, at full capacity after the 2020/21 rains It was the only source of wa- irrigate between 10 and 15 hect- of Ward 14 did not have an irriga- ter for the 4326 individuals in ares of land. However, the dam only tion scheme, farmers travelled 15 km the Ward, and supported the reached capacity following the 2020/1 to participate in the valley irrigation broader district population of rain season. The scheme has a total scheme in Ward 13, to produce food for almost 100, 000. In 2007, the irrigation capacity of 8 hectares, sup- their families. Farmers who could not dam breached after severe porting 51 members (28 females, 23 travel the 15 km established nutrition flash flooding resulting in dam males), each commanding 0.1 hect- gardens, doted around the dam, less failure. Between 2000 and are. The project delivers on the ener- than 30m from the dam wall. These 2009, more than 200 notable gy–food–water nexus. The demand gardens were washed away when the dam failures were recorded for water, energy and food is expect- dam breached in 2017 leaving families worldwide. Sudden, rapid, ed to increase due to demographic without gardens. The ZRBF Sizimele uncontrollable release of wa- changes, economic growth, as well as objective is to enable, recovery, and ter which a dam cannot con- changes in climate. Nexus approach- enhance, the resilience of at-risk tain, is known as dam failure. es have been considered successful smallholder farmers so they are food, Eventually, the community, in in terms of specifically identifying the income, and nutrition secure, in the partnership with the Organi- linkages across key natural resource face of increasing multiple and chronic sation of Rural Associations sectors to reduce costs and increase shocks and stressors. Matobo district, for Progress (ORAP), under a benefits. DCA’s nexus approach ex- like many districts in Zimbabwe was project funded by the United tends to its partnerships model, max- adversely affected by climate change States Agency for Internation- imising public-private partnerships in patterns, leaving many people without al Development (USAID) at- remote areas to benefit communities. tempted to repair the dam. But food and water. The ZRBF Sizimele intervention not only restored the dignity the embankment breached a Mncedisi Ndlovu, a member and livelihoods of the community but, it second time in February 2017 of the irrigation scheme said, also re-introduced fish species into the on both sides of the central dam, providing an additional nutrition- masonry spillway, which was “I would like to thank Sizimele constructed after the 2007 al food source. A solar powered wa- for bringing such a project to our failure. It seemed all was lost ter pumping system linked to the dam area. I never dreamt of being part for the people of Emadwale- provided the foundation for Midlo Irri- of an irrigation scheme. Now I can ni, until 2017, when the ZRBF gation Scheme. established in 2019. see my life changing. I am able to Sizimele reconstruction proj- Estimates were that at full capacity, grow cash crops that will generate ect began. The absence of a 200 000 - 300 000m³ of water would income for my family and I will be dam meant that the residents be available for irrigation, sufficient to able to send my children to school”

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THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 The Need for a Nexus model for Disaster management

In the first month of 2021, Mo- The impacts of extreme weath- communities in the southern zambique and Zimbabwe ex- er events including cyclones and lowveld found themselves hav- perienced two extreme weath- flooding, exert economic pressures ing to contend with an outbreak of er phenomena, being Cyclone on local economies, an already locusts. The locusts ravaged sor- Chalane and Cyclone Eloise strained government, and devel- ghum, millet and maize destroy- respectively. According to the opment partners, who must quickly ing nearly 8 000 hectares of the Global Climate Index 2021 re- secure emergency funding to re- crops in Chiredzi and Mwenezi. leased by Germanwatch, Zim- build destroyed infrastructure, and Locusts were also detected in the babwe is one of the world’s respond to the immediate needs of Central, Eastern, and Southern re- top 10 nations worst affected affected communities. Together, the gions of Zimbabwe — the worst in- by climate change. The index partners established the Rapid Re- festation in decades. The outbreak highlights how these 10 coun- sponse Management Unit (RRMU) left scores of farmers facing poten- tries have been negatively that leads a comprehensive rapid tial food insecurity. The Plant Protec- impacted by climate change response framework for rapid on- tion Research Institute reported an through disruptions to produc- set emergencies in Zimbabwe. This outbreak of three indigenous locust tivity in key economic sectors framework includes the issuing of species that damaged between three including agriculture, roads, emergency alerts to warn commu- and 92% of small grains. Sorghum dams, and other infrastructure. nities ahead of impending disasters, was the worst affect crop covering a Ranked by monetary loss and conducting rapid needs assess- greater part of the affected 7853,2 number of fatalities, the five ments, providing cash distribution hectares of crop land in Chiredzi African countries in the glob- services to assist affected communi- and Mwenezi. Other affected crops al top 10 are Mozambique, ties, provision of food and non-food were pearl millet, beans, maize, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Su- items, as well as the rehabilitation of sugarcane and cowpeas. Sugar- dan, and Niger. Working with boreholes, schools, and evacuation cane damage was minimal at less the government of Zimbabwe, centres. The reach of the Zimba- than 5%. However, the outbreak ex- with support from the Euro- bwe Disaster Rapid Response Pro- posed more than 4800 households pean Union Humanitarian gramme extends to Matabeleland to severe food insecure in the two Aid, in partnership with Care North and South; Masvingo Prov- districts. The most affected areas and Plan International, DCA ince; Midlands; Bulawayo and Hara- were Chiredzi wards 1 – 12 and 22 is strengthening response re Metropolitan Provinces, reaching where more than 2457 households mechanisms and prepared- over 10,000 individuals. Some of had their crops damaged, while in ness for localised rapid onset the focal areas are Zaka; Tsholot- Mwenezi some 2440 households disasters in Zimbabwe. When sho; Mutoko; Mwenezi; Chiredzi; in BJB, Chikokoto and Masangu- Tropical Cyclone Eloise made Chirumhanzu; Bulilima; Buhera; la. Such events, demonstrate the landfall, it was reported that Binga; and Beitbridge. Shortly after need for a fine scale nexus model three people died after being the devastation of the two cyclones, approach to disaster management. swept away by flood waters in Chipinge. Heavy rains also caused flooding, mudslides and destruction of infrastructure in Manicaland, Mashona- land East and Central, Mata- beleland South and Masvingo provinces. Communities had to evacuated and emergency protocols put in place. Honourable Minister Mavhima inspecting DCA’s emergency response storage facilities in Bulawayo Page 5 May 2021 Providing Emergency Food Aid and Seed in Lupane

In January 2021, DCA took deci- of negative coping mechanisms sive steps to eliminate extreme including unplanned consump- poverty, partnering with Pri- tion of grains which under nor- mate World Relief and Develop- mal circumstances would have Beneficiaries collecting their emergency food ment Fund (PWRDF) to provide been retained as seed. Other allocation in Ward 18, Lupane in March emergency food assistance to coping strategies included beg- the people in Lupane, an area ging for food from institutions which has been deeply affected like hospitals and neighbours, by droughts in Zimbabwe. The disposal of valuable household’s PWRDF has been supporting ru- assets including livestock and ral livelihoods, women and men other household assets, and il- working in agriculture, for over legal activities like sex work, 60years. Through its generous especially in Daluka ward lo- donors, with the approval of the cated along the Bulawayo-Vic- Global Affairs Office of Canada, toria falls highway. Some of DCA provided food, seeds, tech- these negative coping strate- nical training and advice in seed gies further exposed women preservation, pest and crop man- and girls to abuse and diseases. agement, market linkages. “It’s In addition, all land borders were critical that we support food se- shut down by the South African curity, as PWRDF has since the government on January 11, in pandemic was declared in March response to the COVID-19 pan- 2020, providing food, but also demic, including Beitbridge- the support to strengthen the commu- busiest port of entry in the re- nity,” said Will Postma, Executive gion, obliterating any opportu- director of the Primate’s World nities for remittances. Migrant Relief and Development Fund. labourers who ordinarily return The farmer extension de- Communities in Lupane expe- from South Africa and Botswa- partment also made an ur- rienced two consecutive years na in December were estrained gent appeal for seeds to of poor harvests in 2018/19 and by COVID-19 quarantine re- assist farmers in the area. 2019/20, due to poor rainfall in quirements preventing them Although the government the district. At the time, the World from returning home. There- of Zimbabwe had declared Food Programme (WFP) was pro- fore, any income and food re- a state of emergency, there jecting an increase in the num- lief normally associated with are no organisations pro- ber of food insecure people in year-end home coming by the viding food assistance pro- Zimbabwe from 56% to 60% by migrant workers which eases grammes in the district. December 2020. Acute food in- food and income deficits, did not security resulted in the adoption come. The situation was dire. continued on page 7

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THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 This despite findings by ZIMVAC This intervention targeted rural working with Agritex - Zimbabwe’s in September 2020 that 58% of wards in Lupane - 16,17,18,19, agriculture extension department, the people in Lupane district had 20, 21,22- deemed the most af- to support farmers on soil and wa- poor Food Consumption Scores. fected wards, with a combined ter conservation techniques like Snap Key Informant Interviews population of approximately mulching, manuring, composting conducted by DCA, showed com- 29,361 people in 5,872 house- and intercropping,” said Postma. munity leaders reporting that holds. Approximately 3,600 food Through Sizimele (a UNDP funded people had resorted to limiting insecure households (18,000 consortium programme), farmers food portions during mealtimes individuals) received emergen- were trained on seed manage- in order to save food for the fol- cy food assistance in the form ment (seed grading, storage and lowing days. This has a bearing of maize, beans, and cooking post-harvest management) for fu- on the nutrition of communities. oil, for three months. An addi- ture crops. The project provided The September 2020 ZIMVAC tional 1,450 households also support to affected families, includ- report showed that the number of received once-off seed support ing female-headed households and women of childbearing age were through in-kind distributions. those with special needs (e.g., dis- not meeting their Dietary Diver- abled, chronically ill, and pregnant sity Scores (DDS), and in Mata- and lactating women). In addition beleland North there was a sig- to immediate food support, the pro- nificant drop in number of women ject is overseeing a one-time dis- of childbearing age meeting the tribution of fast-maturing sorghum minimum DDS down from 38% and cowpea seeds to help re-es- in 2019 to 9% in 2020. Anecdotal tablish crop production livelihoods reports about people resorting to and ensure access to staple food wild fruits and roots also filtered when the food assistance ends. through. DCA’s Sizimele Pro- In Zimbabwe, one-third more peo- gramme High Frequency Moni- ple were affected by food insecu- toring Report (December 2019) rity in 2021, than they were 2020. indicated that distances to water This amounts to twice as many points were reaching an average people who were confronting po- 3km against a norm of 1.5km. tentially life-threatening levels The labour of collecting wa- of food insecurity, compounded ter and searching for food falls Farmer Mathe proudly showing-casing his beans by a more than 50% decrease in heavily on women. The fact that harvest in Ndamuleni Village, Lupane household income. DCA has been most able-bodied men tend to The first distribution took place working with communities in Lu- seek employment opportunities on January 25, 2021. Partners pane for the past seven years im- in neighbouring South Africa and on the ground worked with com- plementing resilience building and Botswana put additional strain on munity-based advisory com- humanitarian programmes. The women and children, who found mittees to identify beneficiaries ongoing Sizimele Programme is themselves caught in a vicious and ensure that the voices of implementing activities covering cycle of difficulties and problems. women - often change agents in WASH, Livestock, Disaster risk “In our response to food needs their communities – were heard. reduction and protection; activities around the world, we want to be PWRDF leveraged a 4-to-1 which intertwine and can align with present and responsive. A proj- match from the Government of the proposed actions to ensure ect for three months can help Canada using funds from the continuation and sustainability. families make it through a tough, Canadian Foodgrains Bank eq- lean season, while also equipping uity. “By partnering with Dan- people—women and men both, ChurchAid, we drew on their to be stronger,” added Postma. Sizimele Project expertise,

Page 7 May 2021 Danish Philanthropy Changing Lives in Tjehondo Village, Matobo

In Copenhagen, as in Tje- hondo Village, Matobo some 350kms from Bulawayo, the name Christian Bitz, is a household brand. The well- known Danish television personality and father of two is an author, nutritionist, de- signer of cutlery and glass- ware among other ‘for the table’ items. In 2015, the fa- mous nutritionist successfully branched out into design, de- Community members gathered for the announce- signing a range of plates for ment of Christian Bitz assistance to Tjehondo the table. Through his television appearances he became known to wide audiences in Denmark, augmented by pub- Mr.Christian Bitz lished articles, and books on nutrition and health published and distributed globally. For several years he worked as research director at the Herlev and Gentofte hospitals, Copenhagen. In 2010, and again in 2011 Christian The one borehole in Tjehondo Village Bitz received several media after the rains. The borehole is the awards. And most recently, in single source of water for the vil- 2021, Bitz added philanthro- lage people and their livestock.The py to his profile, through his source of irrigation for their crops is generous contribution to the Makhasa dam which is situated in come send their children to school, development of Tjehondo Vil- Makhasa Village, 10 km away. The and where necessary, cover medi- lage ,in partnership with DCA distance makes it difficult for the 71 cal and other household expenses. Zimbabwe. Tjehondo Village farmers participating in an irrigation In March, a team led by the DCA has a total of 325 households, project in the village. A local fish- Country Director, visited Tjehondo each with an average size of pond which used to be a source of to relay the good news of Bitz do- five. The village has been food and income, is non-function- nation to the village. The villagers gravely affected by climate al because of the lack of access were ecstatic and sent personal vid- change and adverse weather to water. To assist the village, Bitz eo messages to Bitz to share their patterns that have made even has designed a bespoke series of joy and relay their eternal gratitude subsistence farming a signif- glasses, titled “Kusintha”, mean- for his support. Tjehondo is one icant feat for residents. Wa- ing to win, in Swahili. Profits from of two villages being supported by ter is scarce in the village, a these glasses will be channelled to Bitz, and one of eight villages be- nearby dam needs rehabilita- the village and assist in the drilling ing supported by a mix of high-net- tion and the two existing bore- of a new borehole for the village. worth Danish individuals and corpo- holes are not only in need of This will assist villagers to grow and rates through DCA in Matabeleland. repair, but often go dry soon irrigate their crops, and from the in-

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THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 Triple NEXUS in Rural Development

projects. DCA has negotiated On the 29th of September 2020, such as Matabeleland South but, the provision of seed, and part- the national policy on Devolu- by rehabilitating boreholes and re- nered with farmers to enhance tion and Decentralisation was constructing dams, as part of its local farming skills, working with launched. The policy provides disaster response programming. local Agritex Officers. In the same the framework for the imple- Across its programming DCA has vein, to address social dynamics mentation of the devolution pro- introduced technology not only to that result in conflict, and gender visions in the Constitution. The enhance local service provision based violence, DCA is also work- assumption being that bringing but also to create market linkag- ing with the Ministry of Women’s government closer to the people, es thus, promote and revitalise Affairs at grassroots, rempha- would make government more economic activity essential for sising the need for the Devolu- accountable and responsive to development of rural areas. In tion and Decentralisation policy. local people. Zimbabwe’s rural Tshongokwe, Lupane DCA estab- population are by nature of their lished a weather station providing remoteness, voiceless, faceless, real-time weather information for mass voters. The devolution pol- local farmers. DCA’s nexus ap- icy is key to DCA’s Active Citizen- proach extends to its partnerships ship work and it seeks to promote model. The establishment of pub- sustainable, representative, ac- lic-private partnerships has meant countable, participatory, inclusive that the Lupane weather station is governance and socio-economic linked to the national Meteorologi- development. In this way realise cal Department, and that livestock the key tenets of Agenda 2030, farmers have an Abattoir with- outlined in the cluster of Sustain- in reach, to which they can sell able Development Goals (SDGs). their livestock and create value Mr. Hove, District Officer, MInistry of Women’s Affairs The three clusters of the SDGs for the community through collec- giving a lesson on gender-based violence in Lupane are: ecosystem services and live- tive ownership of such facilities. lihoods (SDGs 2, 3, 6, 7, 13, 15); Co-optive management models, the green economy (SDGs 1, 8, 9, while negotiated with community 11, 12, 15); rights, justice, equali- leaders and partners, provide an ty and inclusion (SDGs 5, 10, 15, anchor even for youth, ensuring 16). The clusters can clearly be continuity of community projects, mapped against the triple nexus and foster peace through a col- of humanitarian aid, development, lective and mutually beneficial and peace. Chronic droughts have purpose. Where food emergen- led to the majority of rural commu- cy projects have in rare instances nities being water and food inse- stirred conflict, as programmes can never meet the needs of ev- cure, and without sustainable live- Participants at the Post-Harvest training workshop lihoods due to the adverse effects eryone, DCA has worked with with Agritex in JibaJiba Village, Lupane of climate change, coupled with donors such as the Canadian the protracted economic crisis. Foodgrains Bank, Primates World DanChurchAid has responded Relief Development Fund, and with innovative programming, that suppliers such as National Foods has sought not only to address to ensure that aid arrives on time. food insecurity through various ir- Furthermore, to ensure resil- rigation scheme projects in areas ience and sustainability of these

Page 9 May 2021 our work in pictures This past Quarter

Coca-Cola Foundation presented DanChurchAid with a cheque of US$50,000 for the Bulawayo Water Emergency Project in February

Finance Assistant, Anna, ready to The groundbreaking event for the Bulawayo Water face the day Emergency Project, held in March, in Emakhande- ni with Bulawayo City Council

DCA drilled over 150 boreholes in Matebeleland North & South in 2020/21 to provide water to vulnerable communities

DCA resident mother, Mrs Chare, taking care DCA hosted donors from the European Union delegation in Zimbabwe, the DCAs’ Mr. Taona explaining logistics of the country programme team Denmark Minstry of Foriegn Affairs, and WFP between February & March

DCA said goodbye to Blessing, Finance Intern Page 10 THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 Beneficiaries of the Urban Social Assistance Programme recieved entitlements in February & March

60kg of Mushrooms were harvested from fungiculture beneficiaries as part of resilience building activities

Churches Convergance on Peace consortium partners, held a quarterly stakeholder meeting in April

We said goodbye to project teams in Bulawayo, Harare and Lupane at the end of their respective Community training sessions held in JibaJiba, projects in March and April 2021 Lupane in April, with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs

Page 11 May 2021 Triple NEXUS Urban Humanitarian Assistance By: Dr. Solomon Mungure, DCA Programme Manager The triple nexus is a novel ap- ing out of its lifesaving interven- proach seeking to transform the tions. The informal settlements way that humanitarian, develop- where DCA’s urban programmes ment and peace initiatives are are implemented are character- planned, implemented and fi- ized by deprivation, marginaliza- nanced in a more holistic and tion and infrastructural deficits. synergized form to reduce risks The informality of these settle- and build resilience for communi- ments is also associated with ties and citizens. To manage this poor water and sanitation facili- ambitious endeavour, the three ties, roads and power networks. pillars need to collaboratively re- As such DCA has complemented duce competition and simplis- government and local authorities tic fragmentation. DCA believes with the provision of WASH facil- that comprehensive risk map- ities through the establishment of ping in the three areas allows water kiosks, boreholes and im- lence (SGBV), child protection, for programming efficiency and plementing interventions meant to nutrition training, all of which con- greater transformative impact. reduce the spread of COVID-19 tribute to better human security. The complex vulnerability con- infections. The water infrastruc- To ensure equality and peaceful text of the urban environments in ture support has also been accom- coexistence DCA’s urban humani- Zimbabwe demands not just hu- panied by resilience activities un- tarian work upholds the principles manitarian interventions but seri- der the European Union (ECHO) of impartiality, neutrality, humani- ous development investment in a and World Food Programme ty, and operational independence peaceful environment. Within the (WFP) supported projects. These which help to embrace nondis- humanitarian community, the tri- resilience building efforts have crimination. DCA has also made ple nexus has become the “New been implemented in areas such efforts to reduce the risk of aid Way of Working.” We at DCA sub- as entrepreneurship, mushroom being politicized. In both our fund- mit that the deplorable conditions production, vegetable marketing, ing and implementation method- of the urban informal settlements tailoring and market gardening. ologies and plans, DCA believes and improvement of the human Some of the vending activities in that the three pillars should be condition through peace and de- towns have been linked to rural synchronized to ensure improve- velopment are essential in combat- producer economies to further ment of the human condition. To ing poverty and vulnerability. Any integrate people into sustainable ensure appropriate acceptance of efforts geared at compartmental- market systems. In Bulawayo and the interventions in communities, izing the pillars of the tripartite ap- Harare, DCA has sought partner- DCA has a robust stakeholder proach is seen as a threat to the ship with the private sector to roll engagement and connection with attainment of development goals. out the Bulawayo Water Emer- the local institutional networks to Since the Urban Social Assis- gency Project in response to the facilitate capacity strengthening in tance Programme was piloted in city’s protracted water crisis. In addressing shocks and stresses. Epworth in 2018, and eventually the past years of work within the The triple nexus is theoretically spread to Harare South and Mzi- urban space, DCA has also im- expected to improve policy frame- likazi in 2019, DCA has worked plemented complementary train- works across three sectors and with government line ministries ings geared at addressing the promote joint planning for mutual and departments to facilitate roll- sexual and gender-based vio- and multi-stakeholder outcomes.

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THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 Working with Churches to Promote Peace to Achieve Triple NEXUS

In Zimbabwe, the question of the European Union, partners COVID-19, have greatly affect- peace is a sensitive issue. Vio- asked, how can communities ed communities, leaving those lence and conflict have a direct focus on peace when they are without, with even less. Given impact on human lives, increas- hungry? The CCCOP project is its roots in the community, the ingly more on the vulnerable, an initiative geared at promoting church is suitably located, to pro- mostly women and children. Dan- peace and building cohesion in vide leadership at grassroots lev- ChurchAid is non-partisan and communities, as a necessary pil- el on issues of peacebuilding. In was founded in 1922 by repre- lar of triple nexus programming. recent decades the church has sentatives of the Danish Evan- Acknowledging that sources of increasingly been accepted as a gelical Church. Triple nexus violence in community structures humanitarian-development part- programming acknowledges that are wide and varied, the project ner, not just in the civic space in the absence of peace, human- works with various stakeholders, but equally in the political realm. itarian-development initiatives most notably the National Peace have limited impact. In the re- and Reconciliation Commission, cently concluded Churches Con- established under Chapter 12 vergence on Conflict and Peace of the Constitution to achieve (CCCOP) quarterly stakeholder this objective. Chronic droughts, session hosted by DanChurchAid poor food production, declin- Zimbabwe, with the support of ing incomes, and the impact of Understanding impediments to Service Provision DanChurchAid recently facilitated able to get the job done due to time, and are not adequately a dialogue with Gweru, Masvin- non-seating, and absence of manned by qualified health pro- go and Mutare residents and rate quorums at council committees, fessionals to provide the public payers associations on the online affecting decision-making pro- services required. Masvingo was media platform 263Chat. The con- cesses. Associations indicated cited as having only three func- versation zoned-in on the impact that residents were excluded from tional clinics, while other facilities of COVID-19, devolution, and the decision making processes of cit- had been converted to COVID-19 responsiveness of local authorities ies. The Associations felt that the quarantine centre. All Associa- in the provision of gender sensitive devolution policy was not being tions reported that the vaccina- services such as maternal health. implement effectively, compli- tion drive was hampered by an The Associations delved into the mented by a deliberate attempt inadequate number of centres, challenges at the coalface of ser- by local authorities to keep citi- resulting in residents incurring vice delivery including downsiz- zens in the dark about the policy, travel costs, to get to distant cen- ing of City Councils’, reducing the dis-empowering residents. The tres, or spending long periods of capacity of ailing local authorities, inability and limited desire for time waiting, which discourage to provide services. Associations transparency on budgeting pro- residents from being vaccinated. described Councils as having un- cesses, and billing has resulted funded mandates. Waste collec- in challenges for residents. Gen- tion being the most visible ser- dered services are insufficient, vice area crippled over the years. including health facilities, and Some Councils have been un- maternal health care. The few

Page 13 May 2021 Successfully Advocating for Change

If advocacy is the organised effort of citizens to influence the formulation and implementation of public policies, then the DCA Active Citizenship pillar is building a library of successful stories of advocacy as a means through which to solve specific problems, strengthen and empower civil society, as well as promote, and con- solidate democracy. Citizen Engagement is a key DanChurchAid ZW Programme pillar ensuring Local Au- thorities are accountable to citizens, while assisting Local Authorities through capacity development planning

the City and its stakeholders. Some stakeholders offered to assist council with its billing system which has been giving the local authority perennial problems. This is a DCA Citizen’s Engagement success story. It demonstrates that UMMRRT’s intervention contribut- ed to a change in the City’s responsiveness and change in the budget making processes of the City.

Lessons Learnt

1. Residents have an improved appreciation of their role in Advocating for Fair Rates in Mutare improving service delivery. 2. Digital platforms play a big role in advocacy and litigation is- If advocacy is the organised effort UMRRT’s actions resulted in the sues especially when it comes of citizens to influence the formu- Town Clerk requesting UMRRT to local governance issues. lation and implementation of pub- to convene a meeting for the city 3. Effective relationships between lic policies, then the DCA Active to engage with key stakeholders the duty bearers and service Citizens is a successful example such as residents, businesses, recipients at every level of the of advocacy as a means through and informal business representa- service delivery value chain which to solve specific problems, tives. The stakeholders’ meetings are critical in unlocking critical strengthen and empower civil so- were held on 15 and 16 November revenue to the local authority ciety, as well as promote, and con- 2020 at the UMRRT offices. They for service provision. solidate democracy. In November were attended by all 12 depart- 2020, the City of Mutare (CoM) ment heads in the CoM, and the imposed an average of 500% engagement was led by the city’s increase in rates for the 2021 Finance Director, Mr Chafesuka. budget, without holding budget The Finance Director undertook to consultations with residents. give feedback to UMRRT after two Understanding their civil pow- weeks. The CoM further undertook er, the United Mutare Residents to reconsider the proposed figures and Rate Payers Trust (UMRRT) in the budget, with a downward re- wrote a letter to residents, asking view. The City recommended that them to write objection letters to the meetings must continue in the the city. Hundreds of objection let- spirit of continuous engagements ters were submitted to the CoM. and developing rapport between

Page 14

THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 Successfully Advocating for Change Evaluating Urban Social Assistance Programming in Zimbabwe

The macro-economic crisis and impact of COVID-19 on productive formal and informal sectors disproportionately affected urban livelihoods. In an effort to meet basic food needs of the urban poor, DanChur- chAid began implementing its urban social assistance pro- insecurity surveys typically targeted will need to keep in mind, human gramme, in 2019, with funding rural communities since urban ar- impact on the planet and how this is from the European Union Civil eas were considered better, mainly matter, and water. These manmade Protection and Humanitarian because of secure employment for perturbations impair ecosystems Operations, and UN-World much of the population. Thus, they and diminish their capacity to deliver Food Programme in four of typically received comparatively less ecological goods and services. As a the most-poor urban districts humanitarian-development attention result of environmental degradation, in Zimbabwe namely, Epworth than rural areas. DCA’s experience food and water insecurity are al- (at 48.3% food insecure), Ha- in piloting and expanding urban so- ready increasing in many parts of the rare South (33.2%), Mzilikazi cial assistance programme places it, world, including in Zimbabwe. These (27.7%) and Mabvuku and Ta- as the best fit partner for urban food insecurities will be further aggravat- fara (30%), according to Zim- assistance programming in Zimbabwe ed by global demographic, climate VAC Urban 2019. The advent through coherent case profiling of food changes, and increasing urbanisa- of the COVID-19 pandemic insecurity experiences of the extreme tion. Demonstrating the centrality of compounded urban poverty urban poor mainly residing in informal resilience building in communities. resulting in more households settlements. Research shows that ur- Ensuring human health and well-be- being unable to meet basic ban food insecurity hotspots are now ing, therefore, also requires a change food needs because of loss of common due to underlying urban de- in mindset about managing the envi- income opportunities brought cay processes caused by collapse of ronment. Traditional approaches to on by strict lockdown mea- economic activities like mining. (e.g., managing environmental resources sures. This after the Structur- Kwekwe, Redcliffe and Hwange) and such as water or land are treating al Adjustment programmes of industrial activities. A high prevalence resources in isolation rather than in the 1990s that brought new of malnutrition has also been recorded combination. Such approaches ig- macro-economic dynamics to in these spaces. Whilst, where it re- nore the interconnectedness of en- the urban populace, resulting lates to water, sanitation and hygiene, vironmental resources—that is, how in massive unemployment, high levels of pollution continue to af- the use of and alterations to one high inflation, food shortag- fect urban drinking water, adding yet environmental resource may impact es, and deterioration of social another dimension to the urban prob- others. Decades of un-curtailed bad services. This exposed urban lem. The pandemic raised the curtain environmental practises such as de- communities to poverty and on the need to mainstream protection, forestation, poor waste management vulnerabilities that were unat- given the number of cases of gen- both industrial and domestic, occu- tended to. Where historically der-based violence, that prompted pation of wetlands etc. have led to rural households were most a multisector response across the among other effects large-scale soil vulnerable, urban households country. It is plain to see therefore, erosion and soil degradation. These were impacted more severe- the need for a dedicated urban social will continue to impact urban popula- ly by the pandemic, after assistance programme to address the tions escalating the urban crisis even years of sustained econom- rising urban crisis. In addition, future further in the future. There is still much ic shocks. Poverty and food humanitarian-development respons- to be done in Urban programming.

Page 15 May 2021 Coming Together to Deliver Long- Term Water Solutions in Bulawayo Areas like Mabvuku and Ta- DanChurchAid Zimbabwe fara have gone for more than with grant funding from the 20 years without running wa- Coca Cola Foundation, part- ter while the suburban areas nered with Bulawayo City of Chitungwiza have been Council (BCC) to bring wa- dodged with water shortages ter to desperate residents in since the 1990s. According to parts of the city. The project the United Nations, certain re- is a continuation of success- gions such as Southern Zim- ful water sanitation and health babwe were badly affected by (WASH) projects in the city, climate change. As such, Lin- in partnership with BCC and degard highlighted that it was Schweppes Zimbabwe Lim- crucial to create solutions that ited, since 2019. Bulawayo supplied water to communi- has long endured water risk, Project partners: Coca-Cola Zimbabwe, Bulawayo City Council and ties. “As DCA it is our opinion DanChurchAid, breaking ground in Emakhadeni in March 2021 having experienced sever- that everybody needs to have al climate change induced residents in Emakhandeni A, Emakhande- water and we connect people droughts because of, for ex- ni B residents in, Pumula South, Magwe- to each other. We connected ample El Niño and La Niña gwe North, Old Pumula and Pumula South the Coca Cola Foundation, a climate patterns. In 2019, – New Venture. Speaking at the ground- private company, with the city DCA successfully partnered breaking ceremony held in March 2021, at of Bulawayo, a government with BCC to intervene when Emakhandeni Carpark near Maunga Shops, entity that provided the land a diarrhoea outbreak struck Coca-Cola Zimbabwe Country Manager, and engineering including the city, due to the consump- Milidzani Ncube said: “There is a saying in ourselves, an NGO to provide tion of contaminated water, in that, ‘when drinking water, never forget the expertise to deliver water ser- the absence of safe drinking one who dug the well’. Our connection with vices to the poorest of the com- water. In partnership with the Zimbabwean people has always been munities,” said Lindegård,. Schweppes, DCA provided good and is here to stay. We recognise BCC deputy mayor, Mlan- support to 2,181 households water needs and will make sure to deliver du Ncube, urged Bulawayo in dire need of clean, safe safe drinking waer and sanitation to reduce residents, the key partners drinking water in Bulawayo, water borne diseases. As the Coca Cola of this project, to value com- through the establishment of Foundation, we believe in hydrating all.” munity ownership. “We have community managed water DanChurchAid Country Director, Mads water point committees set kiosk, from the drilling of solar Schack Lindegård, extended his appre- up at each water point estab- powered boreholes, equipped ciation to the Coca-Cola Foundation for lished by council. Whether with storage tanks and taps, the funding, saying it would help alleviate it’s a borehole or water kiosk. to ease the drawing of water. water shortages in the city. “Zimbabwe These water point commit- With the US$50,000 grant has gone through major challenges in tees are community members received from the Coca-Co- terms of climate change, which has se- who run the water points and la Foundation in February riously affected the availability of water. are responsible for coordi- 2021, DCA has been able to Less rains means less water, and par- nating activities, liaising with build on efforts made towards adoxically now we are looking at green ward councillors, providing providing sustainable water security and conducting par- and sanitation solutions for fields due to rains we just experienced. But this is becoming more and more ticipatory health and hygiene low-income households, in education on water conser- an exception to the rule of global cli- high density suburbs in the vation, social distancing, san- city. The project delivered mate change,” he said. This intervention itation and hygiene,’ he said. six solar powered boreholes is however not unique to Bulawayo, as The boreholes were handed to BCC, which were handed DCA seeks to improve water availabili- over to BCC in May 2021, over by the three partners to ty in vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe. completing the project. Page 16 THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02 Adapting to A Changing Environment Through Information technology Necessity is the mother of all invention, or so they say. The COVID-19 State of Emergen- cy response exposed many vulnerabilities in the traditional way of doing things. Since the advent of the millennium, twenty years ago, ICT has been regarded as both a vehi- cle and a catalyst for develop- Programme Lead, Diego Matsvange & Information Technology lead, Blessing Manyiyo, debating ICT ment. Despite this, Zimbabwe omy is the economy”, providing computers, edible plant stems, was tried and found wanting fruits, farming equipment and at the peak of the global pan- employment for 85% of the national workforce. This ground to a holt livestock. Buyers can easily demic. Thousands of children navigate between categories. were left behind in the edu- during lockdown. While the formal economy could initiate various The Sizimele application allows cation cycle. Many of these for various payment methods children are still on the legacy “work from home” policies, based on the provision of modern tech- including cash on delivery, mo- hot-seating schooling sched- bile money transfer, swipe and ule, where different class- nology-based tools, those in the informal sector, including vendors, Zimswitch Interchange Tech- es or grades of learners are nology (Zipit). By all accounts taught in shifts in the morn- had no such options and were hard hit. In response, the Zim- the Sizimele application comes ing, mid-morning, and after- as a breath of fresh air to infor- noon to compensate for the babwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) funded Sizimele Consor- mal traders who were hard-hit disproportionate student to by the COVID-19 pandemic. teacher ratio, or infrastructure tium, developed a mobile application called Sizimele, a digital DanChurchAid, acknowledging to learner ratio, depending on the transformative role of tech- the constraints of the school. marketplace for food, agricultural and related supplies that is tai- nology has pioneered a similar Reports of 5,000 teenage tool for its disaster response pregnancies, brought home lor-made to keep informal traders and buyers in close contact. ZRBF programming, enabling citizens the harsh reality of the true to report impending disasters cost of the extended lock- Sizimele Application Ambassador: Lisa Ncube said, “Knowledge is in their communities, and link- down. Affirming that schools ing them online to disaster re- not only provide a centre for a priceless commodity that ZRBF Sizimele is dedicated to sharing spondents to verify reports in education, but clearly pro- time to initiate effective disaster vide a haven, safeguarding with informal traders. It’s a plea- sure to see informal traders oper- response measures. “We need children from negative idle to adapt,” says Mads Schack machinations. On the other ating their business via the online space”. The Sizimele Application Lindegård, DanChurchAid Zim- side of the coin, those who babwe country director. “There are fortunate enough to at- which can be downloaded on Google Play Store offers 30 per- is no point in continuing to do tend private schools, reaped things in the same old way the benefits of new technol- cent offline services and 70 per- cent online services. This applica- and expect different results. To ogy, and were mostly able be truly effective, responsive, to continue their lessons un- tion connects buyers and sellers to each other in the virtual trading transformative and make sure perturbed. The same is true that no one is left behind, we of the informal economy. space. The user-friendly application presents potential buyers with need to embrace technology Commentators argue that, fully, there is no way around it.” “Zimbabwe’s informal econ- opportunities to purchase goods by category - cars, cereal grains,

Page 17 May 2021 A Day in the Life of an Informal Trader

Mrs Kamonzi collects waste in order to put food on the table and send her children to school. On a good month she makes between $10 and $20, while her husband achieves the same. Resulting in a household income of between $20 and $40 a month. More than most of the people who live in their neighborhood in Ushewokunze, Harare South. Next to their makeshift single room is a swamp, filled with sewer water and domestic rubbish, no doubt a breed- Mrs Kamonzi from Ushewokunze, showing DCA Country Director her waste bottle collection for the month ing ground for mosquitoes. Mrs. Kamonzi dismisses the challenges presented by the move- handout in the form of whatever swamp, saying that she and ment restrictions on her business. To- grain or food she can spare on that her family do not even notice day her husband is not home. He has day. Often times, she has nothing it, or the smell, any more. She gone out in search of more collectable to give, as she has nothing herself is quick to mention that her waste to help put food on the table. beyond the meal for that day for children know that they can- What surprises the delegation at her hefamily. Most families in Ushe- not play on that side of the door the most, is Mrs Kamonzi’s plea wokunze had reduced the number house. Her home was recent- for assistance for her neighbours, who of meals consumed, as a way of ly flooded, and most of the she describes as suffering. She nar- stretching their meagre resources. clothes have been put out to rates of the many occasions she has Wilfred Kamonzi is a beneficiary of air. She continues to answer dealt with a knock at her door, accom- the DCA Urban Social Assistance questions posed by the team panied by a hungry face in pursuit of a Programme funded by the WFP. of donor partners that have come to visit her home on this particular afternoon in March. Her youngest child feeling playful, is among the guests, enjoying the attention. She has no idea why all these people have come to their home or what they are discuss- ing with her mother. At, her age, why should she care? Mrs Kamonzi relates some of the challenges that she experienced during the recently ended January to March 2021, Lockdown. She speaks with ease of the diffi- Mrs Kamonzi & her daughter interacting with DanChurchAid staff, and donors from WFP, the European culty in securing food and the Union, and Denmark’s Ministy of Foriegn Affairs Page 18 THE DCA ORACLE ISSUE 02