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The European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe is exhibiting at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS) where it is showcasing an array of initiatives it offers through its country head office and member states.
Below, Spiked Online Media casts a spotlight on the initiatives being exhibited during the 2023 edition of the ZAS:
Embassy of Ireland and Hivos – The Irish stand is sharing information on their Ireland Fellowship Programme and Africa Agriculture Development Programme (AADP) They will be sharing their stand with HIVOS who will be publicising the ‘Women Voices Matter’ Programme.
- Ireland Fellowship Programme – The Ireland Fellows Programme offers fully funded one-year master’s level programs in Ireland to early to mid-career professionals from eligible countries emphasizing leadership potential, quality education, and capacity building. Graduates are expected to contribute to Zimbabwes’ development and become leaders in their fields, while also building lasting relationships with Ireland.
- Africa Agriculture Development Programme (AADP) – The AADP provides matched grant funding to foster ambition among Irish businesses, serving as a catalyst for exploring opportunities in Africa. It promotes expertise exchange, new market development, and mutual trade between Ireland and Africa. This initiative connects Irish agribusinesses with partners in sub-Saharan Africa, enabling joint projects for impactful outcomes while managing financial risk. The program aims to support sustainable growth in the local food industry and expand markets for local produce.
HIVOS, is an international development organization working in Zimbabwe, in particular on gender equality and women empowerment. They will be highlighting their Women Empowerment programs whose objectives are to promote youth and women voices and participation in Zimbabwe. These are:
1- Women & Youth Inclusion for Equality project
2- Women’s Voices Matter project
3- Women & Youth Leadership & Participation project
ZAGP – Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme, working on:
- Beef: Beef Enterprise Strengthening and Transformation- BEST, is creating a robust competitive beef value chain that promotes enhanced trade, employment creation, food security and green economic growth. Key Achievement: 10,715 farmers have accessed higher nutrition feed with the potential impact of having saved 56,000 cattle from poverty deaths through BEST interventions.
- Poultry: Inclusive Poultry Value Chain –IPVC, is developing an efficient poultry value chain, which contributes to poverty reduction and economic growth in Zimbabwe. Key Achievements: IPVC helped establish 3,135 poultry Small and Medium Producers (SMPs), enhancing their capacity. These SMPs generated 504K day-old chicks and traded 3K metric tonnes of feed worth over USD 2.5 million among themselves, highlighting the significant potential of organized SMPs.
- Goats and Pigs-Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading and Empowerment- VALUE, is transforming and promoting production of goats and pigs by scaling up and upgrading the two value chains to supply quality assured livestock and meat products. Key Achievements: 12 Goat Improvement Centres established, aiding 6,740 farmers with nutrition, health, and breeding services. 2,223 goats, totalling 24,430 kg of meat, sold to 43 butcheries by 661 farmers, generating USD 76,000.
Financial inclusion strategies secured about $185,000 in loans, disbursed to 24 Piggery Farmers by First Mutual. They collectively produced and sold 211,200 kg of pork. Additionally, 667,458 kg of commercial feed used by Mashonaland East and West farmers under the loan facility.
- Animal health and food safety: Transforming Zimbabwe’s Animal Health and Food Safety Systems for the Future – SAFE, is transforming Zimbabwe’s animal health, sanitary and phytosanitary/food safety systems for improved livestock productivity, food and consumer safety to enhance market access. Key Achievements: SAFE set up 15 Animal Health Centres, powered by solar cold chain for vaccines and samples.
They’re spread across 7 provinces, aiding herds of 25,000-30,000 cattle each.
- Research, education and extension: Zimbabwe Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Services –ZAKIS, is facilitating linkages between agriculture research, education and extension. Key Achievements: Two Agricultural Centers of Excellence and 4 District Agricultural Centers of Excellence were established and are helping over 10,000 farmers adopt Climate Smart Agriculture. Around 27,000 farmers have learned from the Virtual ACE and Ward Information Centres and, 8,892 extension staff improved their skills through a training app.
- Dairy: Transforming Zimbabwe’s Dairy Value Chain for the Future- TranZDVC, is addressing the root causes of underperformance in the dairy value chain by strengthening the linkages between production, processing and financing. Key Achievements: TranzDVC boosted the national milk supply from 75M to 79M litres, and grew the total dairy herd from 38,000 to almost 47,000.
EU Youth Sounding Board (YSB) Zimbabwe, a group of young people who advise the EU Delegation in Zimbabwe on youth participation and empowerment in EU external action.
CreativeACTIONs 2 by Culture Fund to provide financial and technical support to artists and creatives in all Zimbabwe’s ten provinces. Through this project the EU hopes to provide a breakthrough for emerging artists, especially young women and men in Zimbabwe. The government is our partner in this initiative that seeks to incubate creatives and helping them to realise their potential. There is still an ongoing call for applications and information can be accessed at the stand.
Musasa Project to provide relief to survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) operating from five regional offices: Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.
LIPS-Zimbabwe– (Livestock Production Systems – Zimbabwe) is considered a Team Europe Project under the Green and Climate Smart Agriculture Team Europe Initiative. The project aims to increase the adoption of climate-relevant innovations in livestock-based production systems and improve surveillance and control of livestock diseases in 6 of Zimbabwe’s provinces.
The project enhances livestock production by researching better feeding practices, adaptable breeds, and disease control methods. This leads to more efficient and environmentally friendly practices, benefiting targeted regions in Zimbabwe and the strengthening of agricultural research institutions.
Cesvi– projects by CESVI, working with smallholder farmers to improve management and governance, improve performance in the development of resilient value chains, influence key policies related to agriculture and resilience as well as improving the competitiveness and export capacity of smallholder farmers