Development and operationalization of the Zimbabwe Recovery and Resilience Framework

Context and objectives

Zimbabwe experienced the most devastating natural disaster in the country’s recorded history, when Tropical Cyclone Idai hit the eastern part of the country on 15-16 March 2019. The ensuing Rapid Impact and Needs Assessment (RINA), jointly conducted by the Government of Zimbabwe with support from the World Bank (WB) and GFDRR, indicated that 60,000 people were displaced, 18,000 houses had been destroyed, and that a total of 270,000 people were directly impacted. 

Following this, the Government of Zimbabwe requested further assistance to develop and operationalize the Zimbabwe Recovery and Resilience Framework (ZRRF). The ZRRF aimed at guiding the long-term recovery efforts of the government, partners, and other relevant stakeholders and facilitating the coordination of the different actors to implement the findings of the RINA by prioritizing recovery and resilience sector-wide interventions both spatially and temporally.

Main activities and results

The following activities were implemented under this project:

• Defining and aligning the national recovery vision, guiding principles, and priorities to long-term development objectives; and
• Establishing a sequenced and prioritized cross-sectoral framework of recovery interventions, informing investment interventions supported by external partners.

Spurred by the need to improve recovery coordination following tropical cyclone Idai, the ZRRF supported Zimbabwe’s progress from early cyclone recovery to achieve longer-term resilience and disaster preparedness. One of the key elements of the ZRRF included a financing framework which outlines ways in which existing and future financial resources can best be deployed to support recovery from and resilience to future shocks in Zimbabwe. Other aspects of the ZRRF included the development of an institutitonal framework that set out the prioritization of  these needs, as well as an innovative and flexible approach to the results-based monitoring of recovery and resilience work undertaken in Zimbabwe. A final report that summarzies the achievements and innovations of the ZRRF was developed in December 2020.

Partnerships and coordination

The project was implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe and specifically the Department of Civil Protection, Ministry of Local Government Public Works and National Housing, and the World Bank with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Africa Development Bank (AfDB).