In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture, SNV developed a national handbook and training manual to enhance the capacities of School Development Committees to effectively manage and govern schools. To this effect, school enrolment rates, book to pupil ratios and pass rates have improved in 29% of the supported schools

On social inclusion, SNV coordinated the implementation of the National Action Plan for orphans and vulnerable children in five districts in Matabeland South, Matabeleland North, and supported other implementing partners in Masvingo and Manicaland. That has enabled over 30,000 OVCs to access education in 70 schools. 12,000 families have been reached to improve environmental science, agricultural skills, nutrition, health, hygiene knowledge and life skills. 

At provincial level, SNV facilitated several Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in order to improve collaboration and coordination of all actors in education. In six provinces, these platforms have enabled the Ministry of Education, Sport Arts and Culture to be better informed on who is doing what, and to seek synergies in reaching the most underserved schools in the provinces. A Geographical Information System with data on education related interventions has been made for Masvingo province resulting in better targeting of interventions.

SNV accomplishes all this through partnerships with organisations such as UNICEF, Save the Children Norway and UK, Plan International, EU, Solon Foundation, World Vision, CARE, OxfamGB and others.

Livestock

Goat Value Chain: In the drier regions of Zimbabwe, many rural households keep livestock as a means of livelihood. Many of the poorer households hold goats. Insufficient knowledge on goat husbandry and lack of investments in veterinary practices result in high mortality rates and low meat quality. SNV and its partners trained over 1000 households on appropriate animal husbandry practices and group formation, as well as business skills. Improved herd management, housing, veterinary practices, breeding and feeding were subjects taught. Demonstration units supported by the EU funded ORAP and FAO Union projects have been established.

An additional 3000 farmers benefited through participating in goat auctions organised by pilot Rural District Councils in Matabeleland South. The EU supported Improved Goat Production and Market Participation for Food Security and Sustainable livelihoods in Zimbabwe has constructed goat sales pens and dip tanks in selected districts.  Auctions resulted in more transparent and competitive price setting and farmers benefited with increased goat prices from 8 USD to 22 USD. Several Rural District Councils have shown an interest and are willing to replicate the goat auctions in other sites within their respective districts.

Horticulture
Banana Value Chain: The banana sector in Zimbabwe offers increased scope for smallholder production to be integrated into the value chain. Companies faced with a declined supply from commercial farms are interested in buying from smallholders. Smallholder production however is constrained by low productivity, poor quality, poor farmer organisation (necessary for bulking) as well as market access constraints. Smallholder farmers are producing 10 tonnes of banana per hectare instead of potential output of at least 40 tonnes per hectare, with bananas falling mostly between the C or D quality groups. Transport, low fertilizer use and poor harvest planning are factors influencing quality. SNV strengthened local capacity builders to work with producer groups to set up a collective bulking system known as Collection Centre catchment Area Model and improved their organisational dynamics. As a result membership of the Rusitu Valley Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust rose from 200 to 600 farmers increasing the trust’s capacity to mobilise larger quantities of banana (80 tonnes). SNV also set up demonstration plots for a technical better way of banana production increasing productivity and quality. Farmers have gained a keen interest in the new way of producing. Several groups in Honde Valley (400 farmers) have secured increased sales (40 tonnes) to a commercial company who is now interested in setting up outgrower contracts. Prices of USD0.15-0.23/kg were higher than those offered by middlemen (USD0.10/kg).

Vegetable Value Chain: The key constraining issue in the vegetable sub-sector are limited market access and low productivity and profitability. These are caused by lack of inputs, poor farmer organisation, and high transport costs that erode about 75% of the farmers’ potential incomes. In order to improve the marketing and production of vegetables, producer groups were strengthened through local capacity builders. As a result, some 650 farmers have been linked to buyers and various exporting companies. Farmers now collectively negotiate for better prices with the buyers, due to trainings in business skills. Market linkages were facilitated in Domboshava, Murewa and Lower Gweru districts. Through partnering with the FAO-Union project, SNV facilitated the provision of inputs (fertilizers and seeds) to over 500 farmers. The incomes of participating farmers have increased by 50%.

Inclusive business

In partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe we are promoting and developing inclusive business models for development. “Inclusive Business are entrepreneurial initiatives seeking to build bridges between business and low income populations for the benefit of both” (www.inclusivebusiness.org). 

Agriseeds outgrower programme: SNV, in partnership with Agriseeds, designed an inclusive business programme through contract farming. Under the programme, made possible through funding availed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Australian Aid, the 2200 contracted farmers will grow seed for sorghum, cowpeas and groundnuts. Agriseeds will provide all the necessary inputs to the farmers and recover the input costs when the farmers sell their produce to the company. The money the farmers will pay for the inputs will form a revolving fund. The company will also provide the farmers with maize seed for their own food security. Income security of the contracted farmers will be safeguarded through guaranteed minimum market prices. SNV advises the company on the implementation of the programme and strengthens local capacity builders, who provide farmer business skills and group training.

Rural Agro-dealer Restocking Project: SNV, together with FAO is implementing the Rural Agro-dealer Restocking Project programme financed by USAID, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and CORDAID. The program establishes a commercial link between agri-input wholesale companies and agro-dealer retailers. Wholesalers provide agricultural inputs (seed, fertiliser, implements) to the rural retailers on a consignment stock base and perform regular stock takings. The retailer has an agreed mark up and retail prices are publicly displayed. Farmers benefit by accessing inputs much cheaper than through the informal market. In order to minimise the risk for the wholesalers the programme has bought insurance for the stock. This made the wholesalers willing to invest in the programme, without it would not have happened. SNV has provided much appreciated business skills training to the rural retailers through a local capacity builder, as well as well as setting up agricultural demonstration plots. The programme has restocked 60 shops and is reaching 12 000 farmers. Wholesalers are now also engaging in output markets and are buying grains and other commodities, using the rural retailers as buying agents. This has enabled farmers to sell their maize for much better prices then to informal middlemen (230 USD/ton compared with 150 USD/ton). The Rural Agro-dealer Restocking Project has received a lot of attention from various actors and plans are underway to upscale the programme to the whole nation.

Vocational Skills Development

Vocational skills development is a new sector in Zimbabwe. The overall objective is to improve the employability and entrepreneurship of youth and the poor, with a special focus on girls and women.

In the last decade Zimbabwe experienced a deep economic crisis. Unemployment figures rose to unprecedented heights, especially for youth it was almost impossible to earn a living and find a job. The main problem is the lack of job opportunities for young people and appropriate vocational training.

As a starting point a scoping study has been carried out of the provision of vocational technical training. The next step was to make an overview of the critical actors in the sector. The most important step is a rapid assessment of the needs of the labour market. These activities together will lead to an implementation plan of relevant interventions to improve job opportunities for youth.

While we are developing a strategy for the long term, we are also carrying out a pilot to explore what works and what does not work. In cooperation with two local NGOs we have developed an entrepreneurship training programme for out of school youth. After the training they set up their own businesses supported and monitored by mentors. An evaluation will determine the follow-up programme for 2011.