Climate change responses in Zimbabwe: local actions and national policy

Climate variability and change pose a significant threat to sustainable development and poverty reduction in Zimbabwe. The country is particularly vulnerable due to endemic poverty, limited coping capacity and a highly variable climate. This briefing paper draws on the experiences and insights of civil society organisations working on climate change in Zimbabwe (as coordinated through the Civil Society Climate Change Working Group) to examine local and national responses to climate change, with a particular focus on how these respond to the needs of the most vulnerable rural and urban populations. The briefing concludes with a set of recommendations aimed specifically at development practitioners and policymakers interested in supporting more effective adaptation activities that reflect the needs and priorities of vulnerable individuals, households and communities. These call for greater involvement of civil society in developing national policy, and a stronger focus on urban vulnerability.