Zimbabwe is rich in biodiversity and natural landscapes that support livelihoods, key industries, and national development. However, in the Sebungwe region which covers  Binga, Kariba, Gokwe North and Gokwe South, these resources are under increasing pressure. Population pressures, climate change, and limited economic opportunities have contributed to biodiversity loss and declining wildlife populations. A new US$6.38 million initiative seeks to address these challenges while creating economic opportunities for local communities.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved the project “Harnessing Natural Capital – Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Biodiversity Potential in the Sebungwe Landscape.” Over six years, the initiative will support efforts to build a more sustainable biodiversity economy, one that improves livelihoods while strengthening conservation.

The project will be led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the GEF Agency, working alongside government institutions, civil society, and private sector partners.

With GEF financing of US$6.38 million, complemented by US$25.58 million in co-financing, the project is expected to benefit at least 50,000 people—half of them women—while improving the management of nearly 493,800 hectares of protected areas and 388,000 hectares of communal landscapes.

In the Sebungwe region, many households depend directly on natural resources—including forests, fisheries, and wildlife—for their livelihoods. Yet limited market access, weak local systems, and unsustainable harvesting practices have reduced both the health of ecosystems and the income that communities can derive from them.

The project focuses on three key areas:

1. Valuing natural capital
   Zimbabwe will develop and test a national framework for natural capital accounting, helping decision-makers better understand and integrate the economic value of ecosystems into planning and policy.
2. Strengthening the biodiversity economy
   Support will be provided to community-based enterprises, including sustainable harvesting of natural products, aquaculture, and wildlife-based initiatives. The project will place strong emphasis on women-led businesses, improving access to markets and financing, including small grants for local initiatives.
3. Improving conservation and land management
   Efforts will strengthen the protection of key ecosystems and wildlife corridors, enhance anti-poaching capacity, restore wetlands, and promote sustainable land management across communal areas.

Zimbabwe’s Sebungwe landscape reflects both the pressures facing biodiversity and the opportunities for change. By investing in nature and local enterprise, the project demonstrates how conservation can also drive economic growth, build resilience, and deliver meaningful benefits—both locally and globally.

The initiative also aligns with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 2, and global commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, reinforcing the country’s commitment to nature-based solutions and sustainable development.

For more information:

James Neuhaus
UNDP Communications Specialist
james.neuhaus@undp.org