Australia supports civil society organisations in Zimbabwe to achieve improvement to the sustainable livelihoods and well-being of communities

Australia supports civil society organisations in Zimbabwe to achieve improvement to the sustainable livelihoods and well-being of communities

Media Release - 18 September 2014
On 16 September 2014, a delegation from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) visited the Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) in Mutoko. CTDT is supported under the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES) to achieve measurable improvements to the sustainable livelihoods and well-being of communities in Mutoko district in the Mashonaland East province. CTDT works in partnership with the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP).

Under AACES, CTDT works in three key areas: maternal health, food security and water and sanitation. In maternal and child health, CTDT has constructed 3 maternal waiting homes for expectant mothers in Mutoko District. The maternal waiting homes have served as the project's vehicle to address Preventing Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and have helped reduce maternal and infant mortality in the project area.

In food security, CTDT has established the Kawere Nutrition Garden, which is a membership based community garden made up of farmers from several villages in the Mutoko district. CTDT provides farmers with startup kits that include drought resistant seeds as well as training in basic farming techniques, improving household food security and providing opportunities for the sale of surpluses on the local market.

On water and sanitation, CTDT has rehabilitated 30 bush pumps and water-point facilities to improve access to clean water and promote safe hygiene practices. The rehabilitation of the water points has increased access to safe water for nearly 10,000 people, within 500 metres of their homes. The communities were actively involved in the rehabilitation of the water points by providing local building materials and labor.

In the other AACES project funded by the Australian aid program in Zimbabwe, Plan International Zimbabwe is partnering with Plan International Australia to work with communities in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts to ensure that marginalized women and young people access services. Their work focuses on gender based violence and rights protection which benefit women’s access to health services. The DFAT delegation met Plan International Zimbabwe and discussed progress in the implementation of project activities, which include community workshops and dialogue to increase the participation of women in decision-making both at home and in the community.

The delegation comprised Leisa Gibson, First Secretary, Development Cooperation, Daniel Kark, Second Secretary, Development Cooperation and Alice Oyaro, Senior Program Manager, Civil Society.

Commenting on the program, Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Matthew Neuhaus, emphasized that ‘this Australian-funded program is not just a way of supporting the most vulnerable people in Zimbabwe to achieve measurable improvements in their lives. It is a bridge between people in Australia and people in Zimbabwe, one that will bring closer relationships through better schools, stronger livelihoods and safer birth practices’.