Short- and long-term response to extreme weather events by the education sector in Zimbabwe

The document details how Zimbabwe's education sector managed the aftermath of tropical cyclone Idai through a multi-stakeholder cluster system and SMS-based needs assessment. It highlights the necessity of mental health support, the role of school clusters in resource sharing, and the challenges of using schools as emergency shelters. Long-term efforts include 'building back better' with resilient infrastructure and implementing inclusive education tools like solar radios to minimize future disruptions.

• To coordinate the response to tropical cyclone Idai, the education sector established a multi-stakeholder "cluster" involving government and development partners to ensure support reached affected areas.
• Rapid identification of damage to buildings, learning materials, and loss of life was achieved using SMS-based short questionnaires sent to all school heads.
• Beyond physical infrastructure, there is a critical and often overlooked need for mental and psychosocial support for teachers and students traumatized by the loss of loved ones and property.
• The use of school buildings as emergency shelters for displaced communities can delay the return of students to education, as seen in Manicaland where 40 days of teaching were lost to the storm and further delays occurred due to the need for alternative accommodation for shelters.
• Recent 'building back better' initiatives have focused on resilience and inclusivity; a Global Partnership for Education project rebuilt 139 schools in six districts to be more resilient and accessible for girls and children in wheelchairs, while an EU initiative in 250 schools across Manicaland and Matebeleland North Provinces introduced solar radios and offline programming to ensure learning continuity.

APA

Vincent, K., & Moosa, S. (n.d.). Short- and long-term response to extreme weather events by the education sector in Zimbabwe. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/story/short-and-long-term-response-extreme-weather-events-education-sector-zimbabwe

Chicago

Vincent, Katharine, and Shehnaaz Moosa. Short- and long-term response to extreme weather events by the education sector in Zimbabwe. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/story/short-and-long-term-response-extreme-weather-events-education-sector-zimbabwe.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Vincent |first1=Katharine |last2=Moosa |first2=Shehnaaz |title=Short- and long-term response to extreme weather events by the education sector in Zimbabwe |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/story/short-and-long-term-response-extreme-weather-events-education-sector-zimbabwe |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vincentndshort, author = {Vincent, Katharine and Moosa, Shehnaaz}, title = {{Short- and long-term response to extreme weather events by the education sector in Zimbabwe}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/story/short-and-long-term-response-extreme-weather-events-education-sector-zimbabwe}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }