Community Drought Mitigation Project Final Report

The Community Drought Mitigation Project, implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and ENDA-Zimbabwe, aimed to enhance sustainable livelihoods in the drought-prone areas of Mudzi (Makaha Ward) and Gwanda (Gwanda Ward 19) in Zimbabwe. Using a sustainable livelihoods framework, the project focused on empowering communities by building on their existing adaptive strategies and integrating them with appropriate technologies and policy analysis. Key achievements included the establishment of community nutrition gardens and boreholes, the promotion of drought-resistant indigenous crops through a seed-exchange scheme, and the construction of community resource centres. Despite significant implementation challenges—including staff turnover, a top-down design approach by the local partner, and initial lack of on-site management—the project successfully increased household income through vegetable sales and soap making, and improved local capacity for soil and water conservation. The report concludes that participatory project design and a permanent on-the-ground presence are essential for the success of rural development initiatives in arid regions.

• The project implemented a sustainable livelihoods approach that defines a livelihood as sustainable if it can "cope with and recover from stress and shocks, maintain and enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation."
• Community nutrition gardens and boreholes provided fresh vegetables during dry seasons and clean drinking water, while enabling households to generate income. In Gwanda, vegetable sales generated 19,798 $Z, while in Makaha, they generated 2,512 $Z.
• The project promoted biodiversity and drought mitigation by reviving indigenous crops such as sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet, and establishing a locally managed seed-exchange scheme and annual seed fairs.
• Over 80 demonstration plots were established to teach soil and water conservation technologies, including tied ridging, mulching, and agroforestry. In Makaha, the mulching method was most adopted, while tied ridging on furrows was preferred in Gwanda.
• Income generation was further diversified through the introduction of Jatropha curcas for soap making, with 3,000 plants raised in Makaha and 1,300 in Gwanda.
• A policy analysis identified 27 policies impacting the livelihoods of people in Gwanda and Makaha, though the project failed to lobby the national government for reforms due to a lack of capacity and funding.
• The construction of Community Resource Centres improved project delivery by allowing staff to stay on-site and providing a meeting space for the community, which also generated income through rentals.
• Implementation was severely hindered by a "top-down rather than bottom-up approach" from ENDA-Zimbabwe, high staff turnover, and the initial management of the project from a distance (Winnipeg and Harare).
• The project identified several local adaptive strategies used by communities to survive drought, including rearing multi-species livestock, cultivating multiple grain staples, and seeking employment in South Africa and Botswana.

APA

Agobia, C. A. (1999). Community Drought Mitigation Project Final Report. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cdmpfinalreport.pdf

Chicago

Agobia, Charles A. Community Drought Mitigation Project Final Report. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1999. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cdmpfinalreport.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Agobia |first1=Charles A. |title=Community Drought Mitigation Project Final Report |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 1999 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cdmpfinalreport.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{agobia1999community, author = {Agobia, Charles A.}, title = {{Community Drought Mitigation Project Final Report}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {1999}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cdmpfinalreport.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }