Social Policy: Securing Greater Investment in Children
UNICEF supports Zimbabwe’s efforts to establish a more equitable and transparent public finance system that benefits children.
The Situation
Through regular budget briefs and economic bulletins, UNICEF provides evidence-based analysis to guide government decision-making and improve budget execution. These efforts have helped raise the national share of social spending from 30.6 per cent in 2024 to 35.2 per cent in 2025.
Despite Zimbabwe’s continued efforts to invest in its people, social sectors remain underfunded and constrained by limited fiscal space and delays in disbursement. In 2024, 29 per cent of total government expenditure was directed toward social sectors, with over 80 per cent of that going to wages and salaries.
The 2025 national budget has projected a rise in social sector spending to 35 per cent (equivalent to 7 per cent of GDP), with allocations distributed as follows: 17 per cent to education, 10 per cent to health, 7 per cent to social protection, and just 1 per cent to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
However, actual budget execution paints a less optimistic picture. As of 30 September 2024, disbursement rates stood at only 68 per cent for education, 53 per cent for health, and a mere 18 per cent for social protection. Macroeconomic volatility, procurement delays, and slow release of funds have hampered implementation.
The Solution
UNICEF supports Zimbabwe’s efforts to establish a more equitable and transparent public finance system that benefits children. Through regular budget briefs and economic bulletins, UNICEF provides evidence-based analysis to guide government decision-making and improve budget execution. These efforts have helped raise the national share of social spending from 30.6 per cent in 2024 to 35.2 per cent in 2025. Significantly, funding for non-contributory social protection programmes also increased—from 4.5 per cent to 6.9 per cent.
In 2023, Zimbabwe’s score in the international Open Budget Survey (OBS) improved to 63 out of 100—crossing the global sufficiency threshold of 61 for the first time. The country now ranks 30th globally and third in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of budget transparency. UNICEF provided both technical and financial support during the process, working closely with government partners to identify and implement reforms.
In parallel, UNICEF is enhancing the capacity of key ministries to plan, allocate, and monitor budgets more effectively, helping to ensure that social services are delivered in a timely and efficient manner.
Key Results
Nineteen thousand four hundred eighty-nine households – including 115,774 individuals (of which 65,917 were children) – received cash transfers through the Emergency Social Cash Transfer (ESCT) programme in six drought-affected districts.
36,724 children in 123 schools benefited from the School Feeding Programme, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which helped reduce absenteeism and dropout rates.
UNICEF partnered with ZIMSTAT and Parliament to develop and launch Provincial and District Profiles based on the 2022 Population and Housing Census. These profiles provide disaggregated data to guide policy formulation and resource allocation.
Looking Ahead
UNICEF will continue its strategic engagement with the Government of Zimbabwe to advocate for increased and timely investment in children, while also strengthening national systems for budget planning, execution and transparency. These efforts are crucial for building resilience among vulnerable families, closing equity gaps, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
