HARARE, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government, in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), on Friday jointly launched a two-year Chinese-funded program aimed at strengthening child support and recovery from the lingering effects of the 2023/24 El Nino-induced drought.
In a speech read on his behalf at the launch ceremony at Kowoyo Clinic in Goromonzi District of Mashonaland East Province, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora thanked the Chinese government for its continued support towards Zimbabwe's efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
"This project is a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries and our shared commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable communities," Mombeshora said.
He said the program will support integrated interventions in nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, as well as social and behavior change to help communities recover from the effects of the El Nino-induced drought while building resilience to future climate-related shocks.
In 2024, Zimbabwe suffered its worst El Nino-induced drought in more than 40 years, leaving millions of vulnerable people in hardship. The crisis triggered acute water shortages, slashed agricultural yields, and crippled essential sanitation services, prompting Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare a national disaster.
"This project goes beyond responding to today's drought," Mombeshora said. "It strengthens community resilience by improving the lives of vulnerable children and enhancing essential community services. These investments will improve health outcomes today while helping communities better withstand future climate shocks," he added.
Speaking at the same event, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding said the Chinese-funded program, implemented by UNICEF Zimbabwe, marks another milestone in China's efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe's climate resilience and sustain rural livelihoods.
He said the program, which aims to further support Zimbabwe's national efforts to mitigate drought shocks and advance the well-being of vulnerable populations, stands as another powerful testament to the fraternal bond between China and Zimbabwe.
He added that once fully implemented, the program will deliver direct support to more than 200,000 people across eight drought-stricken districts, tackling both immediate and long-term impacts to build healthier, safer, and more resilient local communities.
Zhou highlighted China's support to Zimbabwe since Cyclone Idai in 2019 and the 2024 El Nino drought, including emergency food aid, resilience programs, and 300 boreholes supplying clean drinking water to over 75,000 residents across 300 villages in four provinces.
Over the past years, China has also collaborated with UN agencies in Zimbabwe to boost health service delivery, especially for women and children. Looking ahead, the ambassador said China will soon roll out a new cooperation initiative with UNAIDS to scale up HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts across Zimbabwe.
"Beyond bilateral and multilateral cooperation, I am heartened to see Chinese enterprises operating in Zimbabwe actively advancing local socio-economic progress through their robust corporate social responsibility programs," he said.
UNICEF representative in Zimbabwe Etona Ekole thanked China for the support and underscored the importance of investing in climate-resilient services for children.
"It allows us to act during the critical period between climate shocks, responding to needs that remain, rebuilding essential services and putting protective measures in place before conditions deteriorate again," Ekole said.
