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Zimbabwe aligned and mainstreamed the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the 17 goals, the Agenda 2063 into the Vision 2030 and its accompanying blueprints, Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP 2018-2020), and National Development Strategy 1 and 2 (2021-2025) and (2026-2030), respectively.
The first and second VNRs were developed in 2017 and 2021, respectively, with the assistance of consultants. To ensure buy-in and ownership, the 2024 VNR is being developed by Government together with stakeholders drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs), representatives of persons with disabilities, youth, women, civil society organizations, private sector, development partners, organized business, organized labour, academics, in line with the whole of government and whole of society approaches.
In line with the ‘leaving no-one’ and no place behind principle of the SDGs, country-wide consultations and validations were undertaken across the 10 provinces including special interest groups such as CSOs, private sector, children and parliamentarians.
The 2024 VNR reviewed all the 17 SDGs, incorporated key messages from voluntary local reviews undertaken between 2022-2024 and child-led VNR chapter key messages.
Summary of SDGs progress
The 2024 VNR report reviewed performance of all the 17 SDGs, but key messages are limited to the 5 goals to be reviewed in-depth at the HLPF.
SDG1: The introduction of the Integrated Social Protection Management Information System and the enhancement of social safety nets and sustainable livelihoods is helping the country move her citizenry from extreme poverty. The country’s poverty level has, however, been affected by poly-crises which continue to exert pressure on social protection requirements.
SDG2: Implementation of the Agrifood Systems and transformation strategy (AFSTS) increased public sector investment and encouraged participation of private sector in agricultural investment leading to rapid development of the agricultural sector. The agricultural sector grew by 4.1% in 2020, 17.5% in 2021 and 6.2% in 2022, through acceleration of climate smart farming practices, Pfumvudza/ Intwasa (conservation farming) and development of the irrigation alliance resulting in increased area under precision irrigation leading to increased productivity.
SDG13: Completion of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is crucial in integrating and mainstreaming climate change into development planning, enhancing resilience, and reducing vulnerability across all stakeholders. Aligning climate goals with budgets and policies help ensure coordinated efforts. Strengthening institutional capacity through transparency-focused initiatives, facilitating effective reporting and international collaboration are vital in meeting the Paris Agreement. Collaboration, public awareness, monitoring frameworks, financial mobilization, inclusivity, synergies with other SDGs, and adaptive management are important in guaranteeing long-term success and addressing climate change challenges. However, the ever-changing climate-related events complicates resilience building mechanisms.
SDG16: In line with the goal, the implementation of Devolution and Decentralization Policy, upholding of human rights and rule of law enhance community engagement and participation in development, enhance and expedite case settlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, thereby building up to peaceful and just societies.
SDG17: Zimbabwe is implementing strategies aimed at fostering global, regional and national collaboration and corporation with various stakeholders to enhance financing and partnerships in the implementation of sustainable development goals. These include strategies to increase the quantity and quality of Official Development Assistance (ODA), debt relief restructuring and cancellation, the implementation of progressive taxation, enhancing data for SDGs monitoring and reporting and promoting partnerships and volunteerism to enhance SDGs achievement.
Children- led VNR: was spearheaded by children and flags out key messages from children by the children. “We, the children of Zimbabwe, demand action, NOW! We want a Zimbabwe where ALL children have equal opportunities: free education, access to affordable healthcare, a registered identity for every child, because we all matter, protection from abuse and a justice system free from corruption and, create for us sustainable solutions to end poverty and hunger.”
VLRs: The Government of Zimbabwe together with partners and Local Authorities embarked on the localisation agenda in 2020 with 2 pilot projects (Harare and Vic Falls). Between 2022-2024, and a total of 14 additional local authorities were capacitated, and 6 VLRs have been produced by 3 urban and 3 rural councils. VLRS promoted multi-stakeholder participation and collaboration between councils and their stakeholders in SDGs monitoring and reporting. However, lack of budgetary support towards the production of VLRs, data, the need to digitalise systems, and limited awareness of SDGs and Agenda 2063 were their major challenges.
