EU-Zimbabwe Partnership

Mothers and babies at a hospital in Zimbabwe. The European Union's new seven-year partnership with the country will focus on health, agriculture and governance. Photo by: Paolo Patruno / United Methodist Women / CC BY-NC-ND In 2002, the European Union imposed aid restrictions on Zimbabwe in response to rampant human rights violations and constant shortfalls in ensuring credible elections. Much of the donor community has likewise exercised some level of withdrawal from the southern African country throughout the past decade, slowing progress in several key areas. On the economic front, Zimbabwe remains a low-income country that is highly dependent on agriculture and mining. World Bank data show a sharp drop in the growth of the country’s gross domestic product from 2012 to 2013, decreasing from 10.6 percent to just 4.5 percent. Medium-term growth estimates are low, averaging only 2.5 percent for the next four years. Meanwhile, the poverty, income, consumption and expenditure survey for 2011-2012 pegs the rate of poverty in the country at an alarming 72.3 percent, and extreme poverty at 16.2 percent. The EU notes positive indicators in health service delivery at district and rural levels, as well as improved early learning rates in primary schools. However, other social indicators such as food security and nutrition remain problematic. As a response to these mounting challenges, the government signed its agenda for sustainable socio-economic transformation in 2013, outlining the following priorities: ● Food security and nutrition.● Social services and poverty eradication.● Infrastructure and utilities.● Value addition and beneficiation.● Fiscal reform measures.● Public administration, governance and performance management. The EU has been easing its aid restrictions as early as 2010, recognizing government efforts to enact necessary changes. With the expiration of these restrictions in late 2014, the 28-member bloc has heightened its engagement with the country through the signing of a new national indicative program — a seven-year partnership designed to complement government efforts. FUNDING LEVELS AND PRIORITIES The EU has allocated 234 million euros ($264.89 million) to finance development programs in Zimbabwe. This amount, funded through the 11th European Development Fund, makes up the A-allocation of the country assistance package for fiscal years 2014–2020. It will cover costs for sector policies, programs and projects as well as civil society support. A B-allocation will likewise be made available to cover unforeseen expenditures, which can include humanitarian aid, emergency assistance and recovery efforts, and debt relief contributions. The amount for the B envelope, however, will only be determined as the need arises. Throughout the course of this partnership, the EU will focus its interventions on three main sectors: health, agriculture and governance. Health The EU’s primary objective in the health sector is to improve health outcomes for Zimbabwe’s population. Services relating to maternal, neonatal and child health, as well as sexual and reproductive health will be targeted for support. Capacities for early detection and containment of epidemics and addressing noncommunicable diseases will also be strengthened, along with efforts to reduce cases of preventable diseases. The partnership program will also seek to reduce wasting and stunting among children under the age of 5. The EU also intends to strengthen the national health system by improving overall management and increasing access to high-quality services provided by health facilities. Human resources will likewise be developed to meet the demand for health services, while also investing in health-related infrastructure, including those for water, electricity and waste management. Access to health will be expanded by improving health sector governance, finance and management, as well as establishing effective policies, strategies and regulations that cater to the most at-risk members of the population. Agriculture-based economic development The EU intends to build a robust agriculture sector in Zimbabwe that will ensure food security at both household and national levels, create employment and economic opportunities, generate an adequate supply of raw materials for manufacturing, and increase incomes from exporting. Activities will seek to improve the existing policy framework to foster sustainable growth and better natural resource management. This will be achieved by reviewing, developing and mainstreaming sector policies and risk analyses in areas of agriculture, natural resources and climate change. Partnerships to increase investment in the agriculture sector will likewise be facilitated. To support farmers in Zimbabwe, efforts to strengthen value chains will also be funded to increase access to agricultural inputs and services, as well as strengthen natural resource management. To boost resilience and food security, livelihood interventions will be put in place alongside efforts to reduce the rate of stunting among targeted populations. Governance and institution building Interventions will reinforce public institutions to improve governance and heighten accountability and transparency. Rule of law will also be supported through judicial reforms while increasing access to legal services especially for marginalized members of the population. To maximize national resources and improve government spending, reforms in public finance management will be undertaken. EU assistance also encompasses strengthening democratic processes as well as contributing to peace and stability efforts. The parliament of Zimbabwe, along with other constitutional bodies, will be supported through capacity building initiatives to improve institutional processes and functions. Electoral procedures will also be targeted to ensure fairness, transparency and inclusiveness, while peace initiatives will be modified to better address gender issues. Support will also be channeled toward strengthening the migration governance framework. This entails building the capacity of public institutions and helping them design and implement a more robust, inclusive and gender-sensitive framework for migration. Assistance in this area is also expected to increase participation among Zimbabweans in national development programs through effective engagement with the government. Interventions in the EU’s three focus areas will be reinforced through the establishment of a technical cooperation facility. Activities under the facility will be geared toward program design, preparation and implementation of partnership initiatives. Civil society support The EU allocated 6 million euros toward supporting civil society organizations. This funding is expected to increase CSO involvement in areas of policy formulation, demanding accountability and transparency from government institutions, improving the delivery of basic services, pursuing sustainable development for all, and contributing to conflict prevention and peace building. Particular focus will be given toward women’s organizations that will be instrumental for promoting women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equity. Trade unions, employer organizations and similar groups will be supported so as to catalyze the creation of decent working conditions. DEVEX ANALYSIS While the EU continues to pursue normalized relations with Zimbabwe, it is well-aware that there are plenty of hurdles to overcome in delivering aid to the Southern African country. Cognizant of these risks, the EU has embedded countermeasures in its partnership program to increase the impact of its operations. Across all sector programs, governance is seen as a major cause for concern. The EU notes that public institutions remain unable to properly coordinate with its partners and other relevant stakeholders, reducing the efficacy of development efforts. Another concern is the lack of adequate government financing for programs in health and agriculture, making it difficult for ministries to advance key reforms. The EU intends to constantly engage the government to discuss budget redistribution while also coordinating with other donors to ensure adequate financing for sector interventions. Technical assistance and institutional support, especially in public finance management, will also be crucial for program implementation. Climate change is also a huge consideration for the agriculture-dependent country. The EU will supplement agricultural interventions with dialogues for enhanced development and implementation of climate adaptation policies, especially those pertaining to disaster risk reduction. Meanwhile, as health sector interventions involve the construction of various health-related infrastructure, the EU intends to roll out impact assessments to ensure that such projects are environment-friendly and adhere to EU standards. With renewed commitment and a heightened engagement with Zimbabwe, the EU might be posturing to deliver increased levels of funding for several years to come. However, a lot rides on the success of the current seven-year program. Being the first EDF-financed assistance since sanctions were imposed in 2002, the EU might very well be testing the waters to see just how much aid it could — and should — deliver to the southern African country. Contact European Union Delegation to the Republic of Zimbabwe Tel: (263-4) 338-158 Fax: (263-4) 338-165 Email: