New UNICEF project will mainstream livelihoods issues into water and sanitation programme

UNICEF Zimbabwe will soon start a new project entitled “Addressing the water and sanitation needs of the rural poor in the context of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe”. This project aims to provide water and sanitation services in 6 rural districts in Zimbabwe. The livelihoods approach will be mainstreamed, for example, by developing water services in such a way that water points can be used for small-scale productive uses such as watering of cattle and nutritional gardens. Particular attention will be given to families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. By providing access to water for small-scale productive uses, orphans and vulnerable children are expected to improve their nutrition and food security status. In addition to direct service provision to the rural poor, attention will be paid in the project to capacity building of civil society and local government, so that the livelihoods approach to water can be replicated locally. Documentation of lessons learnt and dissemination within the sector are also important components. The project, which will run for 5 years, will be implemented by UNICEF Zimbabwe together with Mvuramanzi Trust, the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD) and the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. It is one of the projects selected recently for funding by the European Union Water Facility (EU-WF).
For more information, contact Maxwell Jonga or Stef Smits