World Bank Search - documentsYzAzMzllNTk0OTM2NDQzZDE1ZGQwYWU0NTFiYWZlYmVmNjAxNjIxYw2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/03/01/new-reports-identify-pathways-to-build-a-climate-smart-economy-in-afe-zimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe remains vulnerable to climatic shocks and without adaptation, climate change will impose high costs on the economy, getting progressively larger over time, and this could cost nearly 5 percent of GDP annually by 2050. To mitigate the impact, Zimbabwe can take immediate low-cost and 'no-regrets' climate actions to build resilience and stem emissions growth, including greening the mining industry, supporting conservation agriculture, and protecting and growing human capital, according to the World Bank.country:Zimbabwe,regions:Africa,subject:climate changeEnglishAfricaNew Reports Identify Pathways to Build a Climate-Smart Economy in ZimbabweClimate Change/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2024/03/01/new-reports-identify-pathways-to-build-a-climate-smart-economy-in-afe-zimbabwe2024-03-04T15:51:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWPress Release HARARE, March 4, 2024 ̶ Zimbabwe remains vulnerable to climatic shocks and without adaptation, climate change will impose high costs on the economy, getting progressively larger over time, and this could cost nearly 5 percent of GDP annually by 2050. To mitigate the impact, Zimbabwe can take immediate low-cost and 'no-regrets' climate actions to build resilience and stem emissions growth, including greening the mining industry, supporting conservation agriculture, and protecting and growing human capital, according to the World Bank. The Zimbabwe Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) and the Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report (CPSD) reports launched recently by the World Bank point to Zimbabwe’s abundant natural capital (mineral and renewable) as key to driving the country’s growth potential. Furthermore, leveraging the private sector to build a climate-smart resilient economy could reap dividends for the country that has significant opportunities in several key value chPress ReleaseAfrica, AFRMjU1MDYzOGM4OGZkMGE3MjIyMTE3YjI3NWUxZmZkMzVmMDcyZWMwZA2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/12/13/continued-reforms-to-boost-macro-economic-stability-in-afe-zimbabweZimbabweEconomic growth is projected to slow to 3.5 percent in 2024, a decrease from 4.5 percent in 2023, as agricultural output is expected to suffer from depressed global growth and the predicted erratic and below-average rainfall caused by the El Niño weather pattern, according to the fourth World Bank Zimbabwe Economic Update (ZEU) launched today.country:Zimbabwe,regions:AfricaEnglishAfricaContinued Reforms to Boost Macro-Economic Stability in Zimbabwe/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2023/12/13/continued-reforms-to-boost-macro-economic-stability-in-afe-zimbabwe2023-12-13T12:26:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWPress ReleasePress ReleaseAfrica, AFRNGFkNGVlYjMzZDczNGMwN2UzMTQ2Mjc2NTFhNzUzOWYyNjBlYTc0YQ2http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/zimbabwe/publication/country-economic-update-electrifying-zimbabwe-s-growth-through-reliable-and-universal-energy-accessZimbabweZimbabwe hopes to achieve the high economic growth rates needed to move toward upper middle-income status by 2030, but to achieve this it will be critical to realize stable and reliable electricity access, according to the latest Zimbabwe Economic Update (ZEU). Zimbabwe’s power shortages are estimated to cost the country a total of 6.1% of GDP per year, comprising 2.3% of GDP in generation inefficiencies and excessive network losses and 3.8% of GDP on the downstream costs of unreliable energy.country:Zimbabwe,regions:AfricaEnglishAfricaCountry Economic Update: Electrifying Zimbabwe’s Growth Through Reliable and Universal Energy Access/content/country/zimbabwe/en/publication/country-economic-update-electrifying-zimbabwe-s-growth-through-reliable-and-universal-energy-access2023-12-13T09:52:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWPublication Zimbabwe hopes to achieve the high economic growth rates needed to move toward upper middle-income status by 2030, but to achieve this it will be critical to realize stable and reliable electricity access, according to the latest Zimbabwe Economic Update (ZEU). Zimbabwe’s power shortages are estimated to cost the country a total of 6.1% of GDP per year, comprising 2.3% of GDP in generation inefficiencies and excessive network losses and 3.8% of GDP on the downstream costs of unreliable energy. Despite some recent achievements, Zimbabwe’s electricity sector still faces major challenges. The country still suffers from significant power deficits. In 2020, the available generation capacity was 1,585 MW compared with a peak demand of 1,900 MW, forcing power outages of 12–14 hours a day. While the government commissioned an additional 600 MW at the Hwange power station in 2023, installed capacity is still insufficient to meet demand, and rolling blackouts significantly burden Zimbabwe’s economic growth and competitiveness. The pace of rural electrification has slowed down. Between 2014 and 2020, overall energy access expanded from 32 to 53%, driven by a rapid rise in access in rural areas (from 8 up to 37%). “The electricity deficits have been weighing on the economy, particularly in mining, by reducing the margins of existing operations and on the feasibility evaluations for expansions and new projects. The shortages also affect the agriculture and agro-processing sectors by undermining irrigation, cold chain, and storage facilities. Tourism is also affected by the disruption of essential services. These effects translate into lower economic growth and household incomes,” says Victor Steenbergen, Senior Country Economist for the World Bank in Zimbabwe,. Peak electricity demand is projected to grow substantially, and achieving universal electricity access will require large investments, especially in solar power and grid expansion. Medium-term World Bank projections suggest that electricity demand will grow from 1,950 MW in 2022 to 5,177 MW by 2030, driven primarily by increasing demand from the mining and agriculture sectors. Achieving universal access by 2030 will require annual connections to increase from 25,000 in 2020 to about 537,000 annually. “Estimates for least-cost generation expansion indicate that, in the short-to-medium term (2024–26), utility-scale home solar systems would be the fastest units to provide additional capacity, adding more than 1,500 MW that would ensure the system can meet growing demand,” says Joel Maweni, Energy Consultant and co-author of the Zimbabwe Economic Update. Subsequently, generation expansion efforts would comprise gas power plants, hydropower, and more solar. The associated grid network expansion to 2030 is estimated to cost $4.4 billion. While the government is planning to expand electricity access through various sources, it remains unclear how the investment needed will be financed. The biggest planned increase in electricity supply comes from the Batoka Gorge Project along the border with Zambia (1,200 MW for Zimbabwe) projected for completion after 2034, and the Devil’s Gorge (1,200 MW) to be completed by 2040. “Financing electricity expansion from domestic resources alone will be challenging, so there is an urgent need to involve more private investors and the international development community,” says Christopher Saunders, World Bank Senior Energy Specialist. The ZEU provides some recommendations to help attain the government’s ambitious targets to achieve reliable and universal energy access by 2030:Develop an energy roadmap covering structural, policy, and utility reforms to achieve sustainable financial viability and affordable and reliable universal access to electricity for economic and social development.Strengthen the financial performance of the power sector through a policy of cost-reflective tariffs, cross-subsidized tariffs for vulnerable consumers, a plan to improve the efficiency of power companies and loss reduction, and a mechanism to restructure power companies’ legacy debt.Strengthen the technical planning and institutional coordination for power system expansion planning, implementation, and monitoring at the Ministry of Energy and Power Development level.Promote private energy sector investments by streamlining regulations for small-scale energy investments, and improved coordination across regulatory agencies to ensure consistent, light-handed regulatory approaches and enforcement across all energy investment projects. The ZEU finds that Zimbabwe’s interconnected problems of electricity supply and access are ultimately driven by three underlying issues: weak financial performance of energy companies, insufficient central planning and coordination, and limited private sector participation. The weak financial state of Zimbabwe’s electricity companies is the most significant issue driving the country’s power supply deficits and slowing the expansion of universal access to electricity services. Energy tariffs do not reflect the financial costs of energy generation and distribution, leading to significant losses for power companies. The inefficiencies of the utility companies complicate this. High debt servicing costs also burden energy companies. Insufficient revenues and high debt lead to cashflow shortages, which in turn constrain the companies from investing in new generation, transmission, and distribution assets, including in access expansion; attracting private sector investment and commercial financing for the sector’s investment plan; adequately maintaining existing assets; and forcing them to import power from neighboring countries to satisfy electricity demand consistently Zimbabwe hopes to achieve the high economic growth rates needed to move toward upper middle-income status by 2030, but to achieve this it will be critical to realize stable and reliable electricity access, according to the latest Zimbabwe Economic Update (ZEU). Zimbabwe’s power shortages are estimated to cost the country a total of 6.1% of GDP per year, comprising 2.3% of GDP in generation inefficiencies and excessive network losses and 3.8% of GDP on the downstream costs of unreliable energy. Despite some recent achievements, Zimbabwe’s electricity sector still faces major challenges. The country still suffers from significant power deficits. In 2020, the available generation capacity was 1,585 MW compared with a peak demand of 1,900 MW, forcing power outages of 12–14 hours a day. While the government commissioned an additional 600 MW at the Hwange power station in 2023, installed capacity is still insufficient to meet demand, and rolling blackouts significantly burden Zimbabwe’s ecoPublicationAfrica, AFRcountry|zimbabweZjZlNGNhNDhmZThhYWFjNWE2MmUyN2Q1NmQwZGVjNjY2ODViOTYxMQ2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/10/20/eneida-fernandes-becomes-new-world-bank-country-manager-for-afe-zimbabweZimbabweMs. Eneida Fernandes has officially begun her assignment in Zimbabwe as the new World Bank Country Manager. In her new position, Ms. Fernandes’ priorities will be to effectively lead the Bank’s operational programs and engagement in the arrears clearance and debt resolution efforts, sustain and grow a constructive dialogue with the government, and work alongside key stakeholders and partners to coordinate action and catalyze change.country:Zimbabwe,regions:AfricaEnglishAfricaEneida Fernandes Becomes New World Bank Country Manager for Zimbabwe/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2023/10/20/eneida-fernandes-becomes-new-world-bank-country-manager-for-afe-zimbabwe2023-10-20T16:49:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWPress ReleasePress ReleaseAfrica, AFRYzIxYWRkNjljNTA2MmMzYmE3MjM2Y2QxYTdhYmE1NzUyMzU0NTJhYg2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/09/18/ensuring-safe-delivery-and-a-healthy-start-for-poor-mothers-and-babies-in-afe-zimbabweZimbabweThe UV Program, supported by the Health Sector Development Support Project (HSDSP), started in 2014 in two pilot areas: Mbare and Hopley wards in the Southern District of Harare and five wards in Nkulumane District of Bulawayo.regions:Africa,country:ZimbabweEnglishAfricaEnsuring safe delivery and a healthy start for poor mothers and babies in Zimbabwe/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2023/09/18/ensuring-safe-delivery-and-a-healthy-start-for-poor-mothers-and-babies-in-afe-zimbabwe2023-09-18T13:01:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWFeature Story “I am so relieved that, through the program, I will avert a home delivery and will be able to access free maternal services throughout my pregnancy,” says Sarah Musaimura, a resident of Mabvuku, one of the oldest suburbs in Harare. With she and her husband being unemployed, they could not afford to register for pregnancy and birth services at a clinic. A home delivery seemed to be on the horizon, until the Urban Voucher (UV) Program assisted her. The UV Program, supported by the Health Sector Development Support Project (HSDSP), started in 2014 in two pilot areas: Mbare and Hopley wards in the Southern District of Harare and five wards in Nkulumane District of Bulawayo. The program provides a voucher to poor, pregnant women for a token amount of ZWL 20. Women can then present this voucher for highly subsidized maternal, newborn, and child health services. The pilot areas, which initially covered 11 health facilities and two central referral hospitals, were chosen because of the large Feature StoryAfrica, AFRZDhlOTgwMmNiODYyM2UyMTZkZmQ2MTc1MDAwZDNkNzAyMzhmOWViNA2http://www.banquemondiale.org/fr/news/immersive-story/2023/01/24/transforming-education-across-eastern-and-southern-africaRwanda,Congo, Democratic Republic of,Kenya,Zimbabwe,Burundi,Mozambique,Ethiopia,Somalia,AngolaLa Banque mondiale collabore avec les pays pour transformer les systèmes éducatifs et jeter les bases d'un avenir meilleur pour les citoyens d'Afrique. Nous voulons développer les systèmes éducatifs, doter les étudiants et les entrepreneurs de compétences et donner aux filles et aux enfants handicapés les moyens de rester à l'école.organization:World Bank Group,regions:Africa,subject:education,country:Rwanda,country:Congo, Democratic Republic of,country:Kenya,country:Zimbabwe,country:Burundi,country:Mozambique,country:Ethiopia,country:Somalia,country:AngolaFrenchAfricaTransformer l’éducation en Afrique de l’Est et australeEducationWorld Bank Group/content/wb-home/fr/news/immersive-story/2023/01/24/transforming-education-across-eastern-and-southern-africa2023-01-24T10:50:00ZAfricacq5Rwanda,Congo, Democratic Republic of,Kenya,Zimbabwe,Burundi,Mozambique,Ethiopia,Somalia,AngolaRW,CD,KE,ZW,BI,MZ,ET,SO,AOImmersive Story Today, the production of plastic far outpaces our ability to manage it when it becomes waste, and the current amounts are expected to triple by 2050. The World Bank is committed to tackling plastic pollution, recognizing it as a key element in alleviating extreme poverty. Today, the production of plastic far outpaces our ability to manage it when it becomes waste, and the current amounts are expected to triple by 2050. The World Bank is committed to tackling plastic pollution, recognizing it as a key element in alleviating extreme poverty.Immersive StoryAfrica, AFRZjI5NTBkNDA4ZGM3MjlmZjViYjk3NjRlMGJmZGQ1NjRhN2RiNmU3Yw2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2023/01/24/transforming-education-across-eastern-and-southern-africaRwanda,Congo, Democratic Republic of,Kenya,Zimbabwe,Burundi,Mozambique,Ethiopia,Somalia,AngolaThe World Bank is working with countries to transform education systems and lay the foundation for a brighter future for Africa’s citizens. We want to expand education systems, equip students and entrepreneurs with skills, and empower girls and children with disabilities to stay in school.organization:World Bank Group,regions:Africa,subject:education,country:Rwanda,country:Congo, Democratic Republic of,country:Kenya,country:Zimbabwe,country:Burundi,country:Mozambique,country:Ethiopia,country:Somalia,country:AngolaEnglishAfricaTransforming Education Across Eastern and Southern AfricaEducationWorld Bank Group/content/wb-home/en/news/immersive-story/2023/01/24/transforming-education-across-eastern-and-southern-africa2023-01-24T10:50:00ZAfricacq5Rwanda,Congo, Democratic Republic of,Kenya,Zimbabwe,Burundi,Mozambique,Ethiopia,Somalia,AngolaRW,CD,KE,ZW,BI,MZ,ET,SO,AOImmersive Story The World Bank is working with countries to transform education systems and lay the foundation for a brighter future for Africa’s citizens. We want to expand education systems, equip students and entrepreneurs with skills, and empower girls and children with disabilities to stay in school. The World Bank is working with countries to transform education systems and lay the foundation for a brighter future for Africa’s citizens. We want to expand education systems, equip students and entrepreneurs with skills, and empower girls and children with disabilities to stay in school.Immersive StoryAfrica, AFRNDJmZDI4ODRlZjIyMTkzMGQ1MDJiNjJhYmU1YzE2ZWQ5ODUzNTMyMA2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/01/23/a-pilot-project-in-zimbabwe-shows-how-grants-cash-and-menstrual-pads-can-keep-adolescent-girls-in-schoolZimbabweThe pilot project reduced the school dropout rate for adolescent girls after the COVID-19 pandemic, through complementary social protection and WASH interventions.country:Zimbabwe,regions:AfricaEnglishAfricaA pilot project in Zimbabwe shows how grants, cash, and menstrual pads can keep adolescent girls in school/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2023/01/23/a-pilot-project-in-zimbabwe-shows-how-grants-cash-and-menstrual-pads-can-keep-adolescent-girls-in-school2023-01-23T13:10:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWFeature StoryFeature StoryAfrica, AFRZDJjMDM0MTAxYzZiNDc5NmY5YjNlOGI0OTVlZjk1ZGFhZTQyMGM1ZA2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/11/10/world-bank-group-appoints-new-country-director-for-malawi-tanzania-zambia-and-zimbabweMalawi,Tanzania,Zambia,ZimbabweThe World Bank Group has appointed Nathan Belete as the new Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.country:Malawi,country:Tanzania,country:Zambia,country:Zimbabwe,regions:AfricaEnglishAfricaWorld Bank Group Appoints New Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2022/11/10/world-bank-group-appoints-new-country-director-for-malawi-tanzania-zambia-and-zimbabwe2022-11-10T17:18:00ZAfricacq5Malawi,Tanzania,Zambia,ZimbabweMW,TZ,ZM,ZWPress Release WASHINGTON D.C, November 10, 2022 —The World Bank Group has appointed Nathan Belete as the new Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Mr. Belete is an Ethiopian national and a development professional with over 25 years of work experience across Africa, East Asia, and South Asia. He was previously the World Bank’s Country Director for Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal, based in Dakar. Mr. Belete will be based in Dar es Salaam from where he will oversee a portfolio of about $12.5 billion in total commitments for the four countries. This support covers priority areas of human capital, agriculture, infrastructure, private sector development, climate, and gender, among others. Prior to Mr. Belete’s country director assignments, he managed the World Bank’s Food and Agriculture Global Practice in the East Asia and Pacific Region, based in Vietnam, from 2014 to 2019. Prior to that, he was the Sector Manager for the World Bank's Sustainable DPress ReleaseAfrica, AFRNGE4MzNiMDM2ZDhiNTFiNjY3MWY1YzRkNTM4ODM2OTczMjUwZDEyZg2http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2022/10/24/reversing-the-tide-reducing-poverty-and-boosting-resilience-in-zimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe made significant progress along many dimensions in the 2010s. The average child born in Zimbabwe in 2019 is expected to have a higher endowment of human capital at the age of 18 than his/her peers, even those born in some of Zimbabwe's richer neighbors.regions:Africa,country:ZimbabweEnglishAfricaReversing the Tide: Reducing Poverty and Boosting Resilience in Zimbabwe/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2022/10/24/reversing-the-tide-reducing-poverty-and-boosting-resilience-in-zimbabwe2022-10-24T16:22:00ZAfricacq5ZimbabweZWFeature Story Achieving macroeconomic stability, improving agricultural productivity, promoting equitable access to high-quality jobs, and strengthening the social protection program are some of the most important steps for improving the living standards of Zimbabweans, according to the Zimbabwe Poverty Assessment report launched October 24, 2022. The report titled “Reversing the Tide: Reducing Poverty and Boosting Resilience in Zimbabwe” explores how poverty and inequality have evolved in recent years. It sheds light on the main forces shaping its progression, and builds the evidence base for the formulation of policies to foster inclusive growth. Zimbabwe made significant progress along many dimensions in the 2010s. For example, the average child born in Zimbabwe in 2019 is expected to have a higher endowment of human capital at the age of 18 than his/her peers, even those born in some of Zimbabwe's richer neighbors. But poverty and inequality also rose in Zimbabwe during the same period, a contrast to the experience of the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa where there was a modest decline in poverty. Macroeconomic volatility, exposure to natural shocks, slow urbanization and structural transformation, poor quality of jobs, inefficient social assistance programs, and exogeneous shocks like the pandemic are the proximate causes of the increase in poverty. For Zimbabwe to reverse the tide of rising poverty, the report identifies a few policy priorities. The first is improving agricultural productivity and boosting resilience to climate shocks. About two-thirds of Zimbabweans work in agriculture while many Zimbabweans, directly or indirectly, depend on it. However, incomes from agriculture are the lowest, reflecting low productivity and high exposure to climate risks. There is also a need to increase market orientation of agriculture, diversification to high-value crops, and resilience from climate shocks. Achieving macroeconomic stability, improving agricultural productivity, promoting equitable access to high-quality jobs, and strengthening the social protection program are some of the most important steps for improving the living standards of Zimbabweans, according to the Zimbabwe Poverty Assessment report launched October 24, 2022. The report titled “Reversing the Tide: Reducing Poverty and Boosting Resilience in Zimbabwe” explores how poverty and inequality have evolved in recent years. It sheds light on the main forces shaping its progression, and builds the evidence base for the formulation of policies to foster inclusive growth. Zimbabwe made significant progress along many dimensions in the 2010s. For example, the average child born in Zimbabwe in 2019 is expected to have a higher endowment of human capital at the age of 18 than his/her peers, even those born in some of Zimbabwe's richer neighbors. But poverty and inequality also rose in Zimbabwe during the same period, a contrFeature StoryAfrica, AFR