The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the government of Zimbabwe and implementing partners, has convened a four-day workshop to develop a comprehensive Exit and Sustainability Strategy for the Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project (ZEFPP).
The project was developed under the African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF), a rapid response framework by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to address the food crisis and disruption of the supply of critical inputs for food production arising from the Russia–Ukraine crisis, climate change, conflicts, and pests and diseases.
This two-year initiative, which has now entered its transition period and will conclude in December 2025, has successfully reached 82,000 farming households with inputs and extension services focused on climate-smart agriculture.
“A well-crafted exit and sustainability strategy not only ensures the continuity of benefits and empowers local stakeholders, but also fosters accountability, mitigates risks, and strengthens community trust,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional coordinator for southern Africa and representative to Zimbabwe.
“As we embark on the transition phase of ZEFPP, let us prioritise a transparent and responsible exit that secures our project’s legacy, ensuring that the positive outcomes thrive long after implementation ends.”
The workshop’s format is deliberately inclusive, featuring plenary sessions, breakout groups, and thematic presentations from key partners such as the Business Development, Markets and Trade (BDMT), Fertilizer, Farm Feeds and Remedies Institute (FFRI), Crop Breeding Institute (CBI), AFC Land and Development Bank, Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS), Seed Services Institute (SSI) and the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanization and Farm Infrastructure Development (DAEMFID) ensuring that diverse perspectives inform the sustainability roadmap.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is committed to ensuring that the gains made under ZEFPP are preserved and scaled up,” said Abraham Mashumba, BDMT director from the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry.
“This workshop is a critical step in aligning our national systems with the project’s exit strategy and ensuring institutional ownership of its outcomes. The end of the project is not end of impact.”
Over the course of the workshop, participants will engage in a comprehensive review of the project’s key outcomes and achievements to ensure lasting impact beyond project completion.
They will identify challenges encountered during implementation and explore how these were addressed.
The sessions will also provide a platform to discuss lessons learned that can inform future projects, and to collaboratively develop actionable recommendations aimed at ensuring the sustainability and long-term impact of ZEFPP interventions.
“As an implementing partner in sunflower seed multiplication, we expect this workshop to help us define our role in sustaining seed systems beyond the project.
“We look forward to contributing to a strategy that strengthens institutional capacity and ensures continuity of impact,” said Davison Chaingeni, research officer at CBI.
The workshop will culminate in the drafting of a ZEFPP Exit and Sustainability Plan, outlining clear roles, responsibilities, and timelines for handover and follow-up.
The strategy will also include mechanisms for resource mobilisation, integration into local policies, and monitoring frameworks.
“This workshop is not just about closing a chapter, it’s about securing the future. We are laying the groundwork for a resilient agricultural system that continues to serve Zimbabwean communities long after the project ends,” said Zwelo Ndebele, ZEFPP project co-ordinator at FAO.
(News Day)
