www.solidarites.org

Zimbabwe

From 2009 to 2011

Context

In late 2008, a severe cholera epidemic hit Zimbabwe, resulting in hundreds of deaths. At that time, international aid became the principal resource for food for 75% of the population, and life expectancy fell to under 40 years. It was in response to this situation that SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s teams decided to intervene, in order to provide those most vulnerable with the means to survive.

Our action

In July 2009, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL set up a food security and economic recovery program in Kadoma (south-west of the capital, Harare) for inhabitants of urban areas without any land access, and thus without any income. As a result, approximately 5,200 people were provided with livelihood resources.

For food security, our teams assisted communities by providing training in vegetable production and increasing their access to agricultural supplies.
The aim of the program, aside from varying the population’s diet, was to enable them to sell some of their produce to generate a basic income. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also organized training in conservation techniques and sustainable farming.

At the same time, the community’s agricultural capabilities were optimized through improving the irrigation system of community gardens, by the drilling of a bore hole and the installation of a 20,000 litre bladders in each of the three plots.

To help relaunch business and trade, our teams offered their expertise to business committees by linking producers to different market players, identifying viable markets and strengthening beneficiaries’ business capacities.

They contributed to crop planning as well as the preparation and organisation of vegetable sales, and introduced a weekly and monthly system for monitoring production.

Should you have any questions, please contact Emmanuel Rinck

Emmanuel Rinck

Vacancies

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At head office
89
Worldwide
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Internships