Zimbabwe: Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation into Local Development Planning through the Zambezi River Basin Initiative

The Zambezi River Basin.

Context and Objectives 
The activity supported the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) measures within the local development planning (LDP) process at the village, ward and district levels in Kariba District in Zimbabwe. It targeted the 3 highest at-risk villages in each of 3 high-risk rural wards (i.e. 9 villages in total).

Main Activities and results

Despite the heavy rains in the first quarter of 2017 which delayed the implementation of activities, the activities have been finalized successfully.

The project significantly contributed to the mainstreaming of DRR and CCA into local development planning, which is showcased for example by the development of the Nyaminyami Disaster Risk Management plan. Other results include:

• Training of leaders, Red Cross volunteers and community members to conduct participatory risk assessment and hazard mapping;
• Participatory risk assessment, hazard mapping and prioritization of elements at risk;
• Development of annually revised & updated 3-year Village Disaster Reduction Action Plans (VDRAPs); and
• Community project submission, planning, implementation, monitoring & review of 2 non-structural and 1 structural mitigation measures per village. 

DRR information was compiled and disseminated, amongst others by DRR public awareness campaigns through national radio and newspapers. Other results include:

• Awareness-raising & stakeholder sensitization and creating enabling environment at local level;
• Technical climate risk and CCA assessment and training on DRR/CCA for Civil Protection Unit and LDP stakeholders at various levels;
• Integration of VDRAPs in current development planning at village, ward & district level; and
• Advocacy for mainstreaming of DRR/CCA in LDP, including allocations of development funding and/or matching funds for DRR/CCA-related measures.

Early warning practices were improved, such as through rehabilitating the two-way Very High Frequency System used for early warning communication, and through ensuring that fishermen receive daily sms-alerts generated by the Kariba Meteorological Services Department. Other results include:

• Establishing & training Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) Branch Disaster Response Teams;
• Advocacy & sensitization of key influencers at local levels;
• Development of community-driven multi-hazard “ first mile” early warning early action mechanism linked to national & regional forecasting institutions; and
• Piloting of relevant modules from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC’s) Geographical Information System (GIS)-based Resource management system.

In addition, the project entailed knowledge sharing and best practices through:

• Supporting DRR/CCA-information sharing forum at national level;
• Study tours and exchanges held under Component 2; and 
• Lessons learned workshops and dissemination on best practices.

Partnerships and Coordination
The project was guided at national level by a steering committee comprising key departments within the Ministry of Local Government Rural and Urban Development (MoLGRUD) including its Department of Civil Protection alongside ZRCS, and at local level cooperation with the Nyaminyami Rural Development Council and in coordination with the District Administrator.