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The research highlights the reliance of rural communities in Zimbabwe's Mbire and Muzarabani districts on a mix of energy sources due to the unreliability of the national grid. While solar energy is common for lighting and electronics, firewood remains the most widespread cooking fuel, disproportionately impacting women and girls through labour and health risks. The study notes a preference for gas despite high costs and the adoption of 'tsotso stoves' as an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to open fires. It argues for inclusive benefit-sharing frameworks and investment in clean energy systems, particularly from extractive industries operating in the region.

The report finds that Postmasburg experienced severe food insecurity exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown, with significant drops in formal and informal employment and a high dependency on social grants. It highlights that 60% of surveyed households were below the food poverty line even before the pandemic, and that food aid distribution was insufficient and plagued by a lack of transparency.

The report identifies a significant 'Valley of Death' between the production of climate science and its practical application in resilience and adaptation. While short-term forecasting is generally accurate and used, decadal information is urgently needed but largely unavailable, leading some practitioners to misuse long-term projections. The study argues that a 'science-first' approach is ineffective and recommends that the CLARE programme adopt a user-driven, transdisciplinary structure that prioritizes co-production, capacity building for 'discerning users', and the development of knowledge brokers to bridge the gap between scientists and decision-makers.

The paper argues that while women are central to agriculture and climate adaptation in Africa, they are often excluded from decision-making and resources due to sociocultural norms and policy gaps. It proposes seven enabling factors—ranging from flexible finance and resource control to confronting restrictive norms—to move beyond simple participation toward gender-transformative locally led adaptation (LLA). The authors recommend that funders provide patient, flexible funding of at least five years and invest in long-term relationships with women-led organizations to foster structural social change and climate resilience.