The
aim
of
the
projects
is
to
strengthen
Zimbabwe’s
health
systems
by
improving
infection
prevention
and
control
in
health
facilities,
responding
to
the
ongoing
malaria
outbreak
by
enhancing
rapid
malaria
diagnosis
and
treatment,
and
boosting
food
security
by
supporting
youth-led
innovations
designed
to
address
gaps
in
market
access
for
farmers.
Collectively,
the
projects
will
either
directly
or
indirectly
benefit
over
two
million
people,
reaching
many
more
through
digital
platforms,
technology-enabled
advisory
services,
and
life-saving
public
health
messaging.
Japanese
Ambassador
Maekawa
to
Zimbabwe
says:
“We
are
pleased
to
support
the
valuable
work
of
the
United
Nations
agencies
in
addressing
critical
development,
health,
and
food
security
challenges
in
the
country.
Japan
has
provided
a
total
of
approximately
USD
2
million
in
funding
to
the
participating
UN
agencies.
In
support
of
their
planned
activities,
available
funding
has
been
allocated
to
three
UN
agencies,
with
UNOPS
receiving
USD
1.1
million,
WFP
USD
834,000,
and
WHO
USD
87,000.
Japan
is
confident
that
these
initiatives
will
contribute
meaningfully
to
accelerating
progress
towards
the
Sustainable
Development
Goals
(SDGs),
strengthening
national
systems,
and
improving
the
health,
nutrition,
and
well-being
of
communities
across
Zimbabwe.”
This
support
comes
as
Zimbabwe
faces
a
sharp
rise
in
malaria
cases
since
April
2025,
driven
by
climate-related
shocks,
disruptions
to
routine
health
services,
and
increasing
pressure
on
the
public
health
system,
while
also
contending
with
ongoing
challenges
to
food
and
nutrition
security.
The
surge
in
malaria
has
strained
health
facilities,
particularly
in
rural
areas,
and
persistent
transmission
of
infectious
and
waterborne
diseases
continues
to
pose
serious
risks.
At
the
same
time,
limited
access
to
markets,
technology,
and
advisory
services
affects
smallholder
farmers
and
youth-led
agritech
initiatives.
UNOPS
will
implement
two
projects
focused
on
strengthening
infection
prevention
and
control
in
health
facilities.
The
interventions
include
the
procurement
and
installation
of
modern
hospital
laundry
and
disinfection
equipment
to
improve
hygiene
standards
and
reduce
hospital-acquired
infections,
as
well
as
the
deployment
of
patient
transfer
ambulances
and
Information
and
Communication
Technology
(ICT)
equipment
to
rural
health
centres
in
high-burden
malaria
districts.
A
notable
aspect
is
the
project’s
introduction
of
state-of-the-art
Japanese
ambulances
for
malaria
patient
transport,
highlighting
how
Japan’s
advanced
technology
contributes
to
enhancing
healthcare
delivery.
These
efforts
are
expected
to
enhance
service
delivery,
protect
patients
and
healthcare
workers,
and
build
long-term
technical
and
operational
capacity
through
training,
coordination
with
the
Ministry
of
Health
and
Child
Care,
and
technology
transfer,
benefiting
over
1.5
million
patients
and
approximately
2,500
healthcare
workers.
WFP
will
strengthen
food
and
nutrition
security
in
Zimbabwe
by
supporting
transformative,
youth-led
digital
innovations
designed
to
tackle
persistent
gaps
in
market
access
for
farmers,
advisory
services,
mechanisation,
and
disease
surveillance.
The
project
empowers
12
youth-led
teams
and
innovators
to
design
scalable,
home-grown
solutions.
Examples
include
Boneka,
a
digital
marketplace
that
addresses
weak
and
fragmented
market
linkages
for
small-scale
producers
and
Zagri-Boost,
an
AI-powered
tool,
which
provides
early
detection
for
crop
and
livestock
diseases.
These
technologies
are
expected
to
benefit
1,200
smallholder
farmers
by
improving
access
to
markets,
reducing
losses,
enabling
early
disease
detection,
and
lowering
the
cost
and
inefficiency
of
value-chain
operations,
ultimately
driving
resilience,
inclusion,
and
the
modernisation
of
Zimbabwe’s
food
systems.
Importantly,
the
project
involves
collaboration
with
leading
Japanese
AI
companies,
whose
advanced
technologies
help
develop
the
skills
of
Zimbabwean
youth.
Through
this
partnership
with
WFP,
young
innovators
gain
digital
expertise
that
supports
sustainable
food
security.
Japan’s
AI
technology
thus
strengthens
Zimbabwe’s
food
systems
while
promoting
local
economic
growth
and
job
creation.
WHO
will
support
health
authorities
in
Zimbabwe
to
urgently
respond
to
the
ongoing
malaria
outbreak
in
high-burden
districts.
The
project
aims
to
reduce
malaria-related
morbidity
and
mortality,
particularly
among
children
under
five,
pregnant
women,
and
remote
communities,
by
strengthening
health
facility
and
community
capacities,
ensuring
rapid
diagnosis
and
treatment,
and
integrating
mental
health
and
psychosocial
support
(MHPSS)
for
patients
into
emergency
health
services.
Through
this
intervention,
up
to
231,320
people
in
targeted
districts
are
expected
to
gain
timely
access
to
malaria
services,
while
health
workers
are
trained
and
supported
in
malaria
case
management,
surveillance,
rapid
response,
and
MHPSS
delivery.
These
collaborative
efforts
reflect
Japan’s
continued
leadership
in
strengthening
health
systems,
promoting
food
and
nutrition
security,
advancing
youth-led
innovation,
and
enhancing
resilience
against
public
health
and
food
system
challenges,
as
well
as
its
longstanding
partnership
with
the
United
Nations
system
to
address
both
urgent
humanitarian
needs
and
long-term
development
priorities.
Japan
has
consistently
supported
Zimbabwe
through
humanitarian
and
development
assistance,
including
during
the
COVID-19
pandemic,
in
health
infrastructure
strengthening,
food
security
initiatives,
and
programs
aimed
at
improving
the
well-being
and
resilience
of
communities
across
the
country.
Post
published
in:
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