Zimbabwe Annual Report 2021
The Annual Report outlines the situation for women and children in Zimbabwe for 2021, and the results that been achieved by UNICEF in collaboration with our partners
Highlights
The year under review, 2021, was yet another year dominated by COVID-19 across the world – characterized in Zimbabwe by the second, third and fourth waves of infections, lockdowns and the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine. These three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the women and children of Zimbabwe, but also directly on UNICEF staff, programmes and operations.
The people of Zimbabwe, like elsewhere, had to grapple with loss of livelihoods and access to essential services such as healthcare and long periods of school closures – impacting the lives and wellbeing of children more than anyone. We were concerned about increases in the reported cases of violence against children and mental health concerns of adolescents.
But the year also afforded us the opportunity to learn how to do things differently. We embraced digital platforms to sustain social service delivery with reference, for example, to the ‘Learning Passport’ for school children and the use of virtual applications for trainings and meetings.
Our response to COVID-19, together with other actors, went up a gear. Our support to the healthcare system, contributed to sustaining essential health and nutrition services, and COVID-19 vaccination roll out. Together with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we introduced several measures to re-open and keep schools safe; and expanded coverage of the cash transfer programme to support vulnerable households, including to schools through the School Improvement Grants.
UNICEF advanced its pivot of the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme towards climate resilient interventions and systems. In support of Government, we continued to promote community resilience to recurring, climate-related shocks and hazards and ensuring sustainable drinking water services using the Drinking Water Safety and Security Planning (DWSSP) approach. More on our joint action and related results are contained in this report.
