Strengthening partnerships for resilience building in Southern Africa

Harare - Southern Africa’s resilience-building efforts are entering a new chapter, as FAO and its partners emphasize data-driven programming, inclusive approaches, and long-term strategic alignment in the face of evolving climate and food security challenges. During a recent visit to the subregion, Priya Gujadhur, FAO Africa Senior Regional Resilience Officer, highlighted renewed regional priorities and solutions aimed at bolstering resilience efforts.

“Moving from crisis response to resilient and inclusive agrifood systems is essential for sustainable development for FAO in Africa. The immediacy and urgency of this transition cannot be overstated, especially given the criticality of current challenges. As the funding landscape evolves, we must adapt our strategies to ensure agriculture in emergencies and the transition to resilient production systems are effectively supported," said Priya Gujadhur during the roundtable meeting with development partners.  

The visit began in Johannesburg, South Africa, and continued to the Subregional Office in Harare, Zimbabwe. In Harare, a technical roundtable with development partners focused on strengthening partnerships and resource mobilization for resilience building. The partners who participated included the European Union (EU), the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), the Swedish Embassy, World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank and the Embassy of France.

Discussions centred on identifying common and shared interests on partnerships, expectations, improvements, overview of the resources mobilization to strengthen resilience building in the region.

"FAO's resilience initiatives in Southern Africa are not just pivotal, they are transformative. With the unwavering support from the FAO Regional Office for Africa, the Subregional Office will align towards the new resilience strategic direction,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa.

A standout example of the renewed resilience approach is the Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project (ZEFPP) implemented with support from the African Development Bank. During a field mission to the Mushandike Irrigation Scheme in Masvingo, stakeholders saw firsthand how a decentralized hybrid sunflower seed multiplication system is transforming agrifood systems. With over 120 hectares cultivated and 243 seed multipliers trained, nearly half of them women, the project is addressing seed shortages while boosting climate-smart agriculture, farmer income, and gender equity.

“The project shows how technical innovation, local ownership, and targeted investment can build economic stability and support household resilience,” said Gujadhur.

Going forward, FAO’s resilience programming in Southern Africa will align with its renewed regional priorities and strategic direction, as emphasized by the Africa Regional Resilience Team. A key shift will involve moving beyond short-term, project-based interventions to adopt long-term, programmatic approaches that promote sustainable impact.

Additionally, FAO will prioritize the establishment of robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to better track progress, guide decision-making, and demonstrate results. Strengthening strategic partnerships will also be critical to mobilize resources, enhance coordination, and amplify the effectiveness of resilience building efforts across the region.