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The AY4SF project seeks USD 25 million in GCF grants to enhance the climate resilience of rural communities in Zimbabwe's Midlands, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South provinces. Targeting 240,055 direct beneficiaries, including nearly 80,000 adolescents and youth (aged 15-35), the initiative focuses on implementing Local Adaptation Plans (LAPs) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to restore 56,750 hectares of land. The project integrates climate-resilient agriculture, livestock, and forestry value chains with business incubation and digital agritech to create sustainable green employment and reduce the vulnerability of youth to climatic shocks.

The report examines the early exploration phase of the Cabora Bassa Project (Special Grant Permit 4571) in Zimbabwe, highlighting significant gaps in transparency and community engagement. While the project has identified substantial potential liquid natural gas reserves, the authors find a lack of meaningful consultation with local populations in the Muzarabani and Mbire districts, creating an information asymmetry between investors and residents. The document warns of potential risks including securitization, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation in a region already highly vulnerable to climate-induced flooding and drought. It recommends making production and exploration agreements public, conducting an independent review of the Environmental Impact Assessment, and implementing an equity-based benefit-sharing model for local communities.

The report analyzes Zimbabwe's trajectory to 2040, warning that the 'Current Path' of state-centric governance and economic instability will lead to persistent poverty and food insecurity. It contrasts this with the 'Great Zimbabwe' scenario, where pro-growth policies, transferable land titles, and expanded irrigation could significantly boost GDP and reduce undernourishment. Conversely, the 'Things Fall Apart' scenario predicts a decline into internal conflict and severe humanitarian deterioration if political accountability is not established. Key recommendations emphasize rehabilitating irrigation, improving democratic accountability, and partnering with the IMF to stabilize the economy.