DAPP Zimbabwe has launched an emergency program focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and multi-purpose cash transfers to address the effects of the El Nino-induced drought in Epworth District, Harare Metropolitan Province. The program, titled Humanitarian Action to Mitigate the Effects of El Nino-Induced Drought (HAMED), will run for seven months from the 1st of March 2025 to the 30th of September 2025 funded by Humana Portugal through FPP Spain for the Funding support. The program aims to improve food security for 1,585 individuals affected by the drought (equivalent to 317 households) through mobile multi-purpose cash transfers in wards 3, 6, and 7. Additionally, it will enhance WASH infrastructure benefiting at least 12,000 people across wards 1 to 7 in the Epworth District.
This program came about after Zimbabwe in 2024 experienced severe El Niño-induced drought resulting in widespread crop failure, water resource depletion and stress on pastures. The most affected areas include peri-urban regions, home to almost half of the population with over 40% of them experiencing food insecurity. The President of Zimbabwe had to declare the El Niño-induced drought a National Disaster calling for emergency aid. Additionally, the existing social assistance programs have limited coverage and effectiveness hindering their ability to mitigate the impact of such shocks. Therefore, it is from this background that the HAMED project was launched as an emergency program.
For Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), the program aims to solarize and equip at least six boreholes, as well as train water point committees and borehole pump minders. Additionally, small vegetable gardens will be established at the boreholes to improve household nutrition. A total of 317 households will benefit from receiving two water buckets each for storing clean drinking water. The project will also conduct health and hygiene campaigns to reduce the risk of cholera outbreaks. Beneficiaries will receive mobile multi-purpose cash transfers from May 2025 to August 2025. Furthermore, the program will assist cash transfer beneficiaries in establishing Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) groups while existing ISAL groups will be strengthened.
To achieve the set goals and objectives, the program will primarily collaborate with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the Epworth Local Board and other key stakeholders during implementation.