Building Climate Resilience Together: How Stakeholder Collaboration Paved the Way for Success in Zimbabwe

A project in Zimbabwe is helping female farmers build resilience against climate change. The focus is on creating sustainable livelihoods through three key commodities: eggs, cassava, and mangoes. Before any analysis began, a crucial first step made all the difference: bringing the right people to the table.

Global Agribusiness Solutions (GABS), tasked with conducting a value chain analysis for these crops, knew that success depended on early and inclusive collaboration. They started by organizing stakeholder familiarization meetings across the country.

Why These Meetings Mattered

The goal was simple: ensure everyone involved understood the project's purpose and their role within it. Participants included vulnerable female farmers, female-headed households, agricultural extension officers (Agritex), local government leaders, and community representatives.

These meetings created a shared understanding from the outset. They clarified responsibilities and opened a channel for honest dialogue. This early investment in communication helped manage expectations, gather valuable local insights, and build the trust necessary for smooth implementation.

Identifying Key Partners

GABS identified several critical stakeholder groups:

• Community Custodians: Provincial, district, and ward-level officials who granted permissions and facilitated local connections.
• Value Chain Actors: Input suppliers, producers, traders, and consumers whose daily experiences were vital to the analysis.
• Technical Experts: Economists and agriculture specialists who could guide the study toward real economic improvement.

A Seamless Journey from National to Local Level

The team began their consultations at the national level with ministries responsible for agriculture and climate change. They then traveled to provincial and district offices across multiple regions, including Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and the Midlands.

This thorough approach ensured everyone was informed and onboard. It simplified later steps, like selecting districts, identifying participants for focus group discussions, and organizing training sessions for farmers on the value chains.

The Result: A Foundation for Success

Because of this strong foundational work, the project implementation phase proceeded without major issues. The clear communication and established relationships meant that activities, from community discussions to training, were carried out effectively.

This story highlights a powerful lesson for international development work: taking time to genuinely connect with all stakeholders at the start is not just a formality. It is the key to unlocking collaboration, respecting local knowledge, and ensuring a project's success can take root and grow.

This initiative, supported by Canadian partnership, demonstrates how inclusive planning and respect for local expertise create lasting impact, empowering women in Zimbabwe to build climate-resilient livelihoods.