We are excited to share the final report from our Green Roads for Water (GR4W) training, recently held in Zimbabwe under the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project (SACP). The SACP, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and the Government of Zimbabwe, is dedicated to increasing household incomes and improving nutrition by enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting rural development, and building resilience within smallholder farming communities. As part of its commitment to climate-proofed value chain infrastructure, SACP is targeting the improvement of 89 kilometers of local, climate-resilient feeder roads by 2027, with a focus on transforming these vital connections into opportunities for water management, erosion control, and landscape restoration.
Recognizing the persistent challenges faced by rural roads—including water-related damage, erosion, flooding, and inadequate drainage—SACP partnered with MetaMeta to deliver a comprehensive, context-tailored capacity building program on the GR4W approach. The training, held in July 2025 in Kadoma, brought together 33 participants from the SACP Project Management Unit, Provincial Project Implementation Units, the Department of Irrigation, the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA), the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), and local Rural District Councils. Together, this multidisciplinary group engaged in a dynamic mix of classroom sessions, field visits to key project sites, and hands-on group work, fostering practical skills and collaborative planning.
Throughout the five-day program, participants explored innovative solutions for integrating water management into road design and maintenance, drawing inspiration from case studies in Kenya and Ethiopia as well as Zimbabwe’s own experiences. Field visits to Mashonaland East, Central, and West provinces enabled direct observation and analysis of local road-water challenges and opportunities. The training culminated in the development of tailored GR4W implementation plans for each province, outlining specific activities, stakeholder roles, resource requirements, and monitoring frameworks. Participants expressed strong enthusiasm and confidence in applying their new knowledge, with many describing the training as “a full package of the real deal” and voicing readiness to lead GR4W interventions in their communities.
The Final report documents the entire training process, key lessons learned, and actionable recommendations for scaling up Green Roads for Water practices across Zimbabwe. It also highlights the next steps for the SACP team, who are now well-equipped and motivated to turn these plans into measurable impact for rural infrastructure and community resilience.
You can access the report here.
Last modified: July 31, 2025