El Niño Response: Building Resilient Communities and Delivering Results

Nearly a year has passed since Zimbabwe declared a state of emergency because of the devastating El Niño drought. This crisis has impacted almost half of the population, approximately 7.6 million people, including 3.5 million children. Many communities faced food insecurity, which led to inadequate diets and an increased risk of malnutrition. Water scarcity heightened the prevalence of waterborne diseases, compounding the hardships. For children this meant disrupted access to quality education and health services, further increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.

In response to the crisis, UNICEF, in close collaboration with the Government and partners, delivered critical multisectoral interventions that brought tangible results for the most vulnerable communities.

Thanks to the support from Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) , the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) , the European Union (EU), UNICEF Global Humanitarian Thematic Funds (GHTF) and the Health Resilience Fund (HRF) funded by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF was able to deliver life-saving interventions to those most affected by the El Niño drought and help build resilient communities.

Nutrition

Scaling up nutrition interventions is at the heart of the El Niño emergency response, playing a critical role in addressing the devastating effects of the drought. With over 60 per cent of crops lost and harvests severely impacted, families faced an urgent need for interventions that prevent a surge in child wasting and safeguard diet diversity and child nutrition. 

Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Childcare, UNICEF supported the intensification of community-based Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening for early identification, referral, and treatment of children with wasting.

Over 1.28M children aged 6 – 59 months were reached with MUAC screening in the El Niño drought high-priority districts.

Over 12,786 children under five were treated for severe wasting using Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a life-saving essential medicine. RUTF was especially critical during this period, as the prevalence of child wasting in Zimbabwe rose from 4.1 percent in 2023 to 4.9 percent in 2024, with urban areas showing a rise from 3 to 5.6 percent according to the 2024 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC).

Additionally, 50,996 children aged 6 – 59 months were reached with multiple micronutrient powders (MNPs) to address micronutrient deficiencies during emergencies.

Through the establishment and continued support of more than 12,417 care groups across 30 districts, over 811,403 caregivers have received life-changing infant and young child feeding counseling and support. Promoted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the care group model is a powerful community-based approach, providing mothers with essential health information and empowering them to play a proactive role in safeguarding their families' well-being

Care groups provide a vital platform for communities to connect and support one another, particularly in the face of increasingly frequent climate shocks. Through shared knowledge and collaborative learning, women from care groups across the Country developed nutrient-dense complementary feeding porridges using locally available, drought-resistant ingredients. This simple yet impactful initiative ensured that many children received healthy and nutritious meals, showcasing the power of community-driven solutions in building resilience and improving lives.

Water

Access to safe water is vital during climate shocks such as droughts and floods, ensuring sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services that are fundamental to protecting children’s rights to health, nutrition, education, and safety. By providing communities with safe water, we strengthened their ability to adapt to climate-related shocks, such as the El Niño drought, while creating a foundation for children to survive, grow, and thrive.

The El Niño drought negatively impacted access to safe water for many Zimbabweans as water points had dried up. In response, UNICEF and partners rehabilitated existing water points and constructed new, climate-resilient, multi-purpose solar-powered piped water systems that have provided access to safe water for over 55,000 people. This included the rehabilitation of 67 boreholes and the development of 15 solar-powered piped water systems.

The El Niño drought has worsened water scarcity in Zimbabwe, contributing to the 2024 cholera outbreak with nearly 35,000 cases and over 700 deaths. In response, UNICEF, together with the Government and partners, implemented an emergency plan that included reaching people in hotspot areas with essential water supplies such as water treatment chemicals, soap, and water containers to help prevent further spread of the disease.

Education, including climate-sensitive curricula, is key to building a generation of change agents. With support from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), UNICEF established 50 health clubs in schools and communities to encourage appropriate behavior during times of reduced access to safe water. The initiative promotes safe hygiene, sanitation practices, and water conservation.