UNICEF
supports
the
Government
of
Zimbabwe
to
improve
access
to
climate-resilient
and
sustainable
WASH
services,
with
a
focus
on
the
most
vulnerable
populations.
In
2024,
development
and
emergency
interventions
reached
an
additional
574,060
people
and
156
schools
with
basic
water
services.
These
improvements
were
made
through:
-
Rehabilitation
of
boreholes -
Chlorination
of
water
points -
Construction
of
piped
water
schemes
and
community
water
kiosks
These
interventions
have
enhanced
water
security
and
reduced
the
time
and
physical
burden
on
women
and
girls,
while
supporting
disease
prevention
and
dignity
across
communities.
UNICEF
also
contributed
to
expanding
access
to
sanitation.
Technical
assistance
and
advocacy
led
to
the
approval
of
the
new Sanitation
and
Hygiene
Policy,
which
promotes
self-financed
household
latrines.
Implementation
in
six
districts
reached
31,899
people
with
basic
sanitation
services.
Seventeen
villages
in
Matabeleland
South
Province
were
declared open
defecation
free,
marking
progress
in
community-led
sanitation
efforts.
However,
the
pace
of
latrine
construction
remains
below
the
levels
required
to
meet
national
targets.
Integrating
Climate
and
Child
Rights
UNICEF
continues
to
champion
child-sensitive
climate
action
in
Zimbabwe.
In
2024,
UNICEF
supported
the
Government
in
incorporating
children’s
needs
into
two
key
national
climate
frameworks:
-
National
Adaptation
Plan
(NAP):
Submitted
to
the
UNFCCC,
the
plan
includes
provisions
for
child-centred
resilience
building
in
sectors
such
as
health
and
WASH. -
Nationally
Determined
Contributions
(NDC)
Implementation
Plan:
UNICEF
influenced
the
inclusion
of
age-
and
gender-responsive
indicators.
Ahead
of
COP29,
UNICEF
co-hosted
child-led
consultations
with
the
Ministry
of
Environment
and
Ministry
of
Youth
to
better
understand
the
climate-related
health
impacts
facing
children.
A
total
of
1,000
children
shared
insights,
which
informed
the Climate
Change
Impacts
on
Child
Health
Report,
presented
at
the
60th
Subsidiary
Body
Sessions
of
the
UNFCCC
in
Bonn,
Germany.
UNICEF
also
supported
the
participation
of
young
climate
advocates
and
contributed
to
national
climate
vulnerability
assessments,
helping
to
ensure
that
children’s
voices
and
needs
are
central
to
environmental
policymaking
and
adaptation
efforts.