The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded CARE Zimbabwe with a US$3 million grant to provide support to 25,000 people in Bikita district of Masvingo province from June to November.
In a statement, USAID indicated that the ‘Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment 2023 Report’ highlighted the dire situation in the country, with 2.7 million people in urgent need of food assistance due to the devastating El Niño-induced drought in the country.
CARE Zimbabwe will implement the grant through the Tayambuka Project. The word “Tayambuka” in vernacular language translates to “we have prevailed over.”
The El Niño-induced drought “is projected to result in livelihood loss, water scarcity, and disruption of social protection services. An estimated 26.4 percent of children under five years of age are facing malnutrition and stunted growth.”
CARE Zimbabwe Country Director Patrick Sikana stated, “The project takes a multifaceted approach to tackle these challenges. It combines in-kind food assistance with the implementation of Food for Assets (FFA) programs.
“FFA focuses on strengthening community physical and natural assets to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerabilities to future shocks and stresses. Tayambuka will address the gaps in food consumption in 5,000 vulnerable households, each with an average of five members.”
Under the Tayambuka Project” each household will receive six months’ worth of in-kind food assistance comprising 50 kilograms of sorghum cereal, 10 kilograms of Pinto Beans, and 3.75 kilograms of vegetable oil.
“This quantity is specifically designed to meet 75 percent of the average daily calorie requirement of 2,100 calories for each household member. Concurrently, CARE will also conduct FFA initiatives,” the statement reads.
