Takudzwa Changadeya
MASVINGO: The Mwenezi Development Training Centre (MDTC) has announced launch of a $960,000 El Nino-induced Drought Response and Adaptation project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The one-year initiative is aimed at strengthening the resilience of over 8,600 people and more than 33,700 livestock in Chiredzi District, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing drought, said MDTC in a statement.
According to MDTC, the project, set to be implemented in wards 10, 13, and 15 of Chiredzi, will focus on enhancing access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, as well as improving livestock productivity and creating income-generating opportunities for vulnerable households.
“This project underscores our commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable families who have been hard-hit by the effects of the El Niño drought.
“Thanks to the generous support from USAID and the American people, we are able to enhance food security and build resilience in Chiredzi’s rural communities,” reads a statement by the MTDC.
A key component of the project involves the rehabilitation of 15 boreholes, nine of which will be converted to solar power, ensuring a reliable supply of clean water for both domestic use and livestock.
MDTC highlighted that this would particularly benefit women and girls who no longer need to travel long distances to collect water.
“We are excited to provide training to local water point user committees (WPUCs) and community members on how to maintain and operate these water points,” said the organisation.
“This will promote the long-term sustainability of water access in the region,” they added.
The project also aims to improve sanitation and hygiene by establishing 15 community health clubs (CHCs) and promoting latrine construction to reduce open defecation.
In addition to WASH services, MDTC also highlighted that the project will support on and off farm livelihood opportunities for marginalized groups such as women, youth, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
The organisation plans to engage 225 participants through village savings and loan associations (VSLAs), offering training in financial literacy to help manage public funds from WPUCs and CHCs.
MDTC emphasised its role as a leading local NGO, being the first in the country to receive successive funding awards from USAID.
The region is one of the most affected by the drought falling within the semi-arid areas, lying mostly under agro-ecological region V of Zimbabwe’s farming regions which receives mean annual rainfall of less than 450 mm.
