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Save the Children in Zimbabwe

Since 1983 when Save the Children began operations in Zimbabwe, the organisation has remained committed to children, by supporting the government and communities to  deliver on their mandate and make the country  a better place for children.  By implementing relevant child rights programmes, responding to emergencies and advocacy efforts, major milestones  have been reached. These have all contributed towards ensuring that the Zimbabwean child survives, learns and  is protected. Over the years Save the Children responded to several emergencies in Zimbabwe, notably the cholera emergency, drought and food insecurity, Cyclone Idai emergency , the COVID-19 emergency and lately the El' Nino induced drought.

We believe in working together, empowering and strengthening local capacity, hence we work mostly  through partner organisation, such as local and International Non-governmental organisations, government departments and ministries, local authorities, communities and children. All our support in the communities is given freely, regardless of ethnicity, religious or political affiliation.

The situation for children in Zimbabwe

More than half of population are children. Despite the progress that has been made, high levels of inequality exist which prevents millions of children from surviving and reaching their full potential.

One in four children under the age of five are stunted, with highest rates of stunting in rural and remote areas. Neonatal mortality rates remain high, resulting in children dying within their first month of life. 

Children, especially those living in rural and remote areas, struggle to access quality education, and many do not receive any early education, which is critical for their development. 

Our impact for children

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In 2024, Save the Children directly reached

124, 557 people in the country including more than 65, 601 children.

What we do

Health and Nutrition: We work with the government and partners to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and child malnutrition by scaling up high-impact interventions, advocating for improved health systems and working on social norms and behavior change.

Food Security & Livelihoods: We work with partners to strengthen resilience and sustainable livelihoods, which includes delivering cash transfers and providing life skills training to young people. We also offer financial services through savings groups and train women and youth on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and production.

Child Protection: We strengthen formal and informal child protection mechanisms to keep children safe from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. We work with parents and caregivers to help them care for their children without violence and we ensure that vulnerable children received the support and protection services they need.

Child rights governance: our interventions, have focused broadly on budget advocacy, international treaty reporting, influencing policies and legislation and supporting the participation of children and young persons in governance matters.

Education: As co-lead of the Education Cluster and one of the largest Education actors in Zimbabwe, SC works with partners and community-based organizations to ensure learners have access to inclusive and quality education through improved infrastructure, provision of learning material, and teacher training. After Cyclone Idai, SC rehabilitated 139 schools, including gender-sensitive and accessible WASH facilities, and reached over 21,000 community members through Cyclone and Covid-19 back-to-school campaigns. 

Humanitarian response: We ensure communities are prepared for disasters, and support emergency relief efforts through the provision of supplies and on-the-ground support.

News & Stories

17 Jun 2025

Improving Child and Maternal Health through Nutrition Support

Mother of two, Nodumo, struggled to provide enough breastmilk for her 7-month-old baby Isabel when severe drought impacted her farming business and forced her to live on one meal a day. She received a special nutritious porridge that increased her milk supply and when Isabel was old enough she also started eating it. Nodumo also joined a mother's group where they exchange parenting tips and learn about their children's health. 

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29 May 2025

Our Impact in 2024: Read our Annual Report

Our 2024 Annual Report details the organisation’s comprehensive efforts to improve children’s lives in Zimbabwe, focusing on Child Protection, Education, Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and Health and Nutrition, Climate Resilience, Food Security and Livelihoods, and Child Rights Governance, alongside effective responses to humanitarian crises. Significant strides were made resulting in improved access to health, nutrition and WASH services, enhanced child protection systems, strengthened community resilience to the adverse impacts of climate induced disasters, improved educational outcomes for children and enhanced meaningful child participation. The report highlights both quantitative data and qualitative descriptions of program impacts, demonstrating improved outcomes for children through strong partnerships with the Government of Zimbabwe, donors and partners, communities and children themselves.

Read full report: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/save-the-children-zimbabwe-annual-report-2024

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SOUTHERN AFRICA: A FOUR-FOLD SURGE IN CHOLERA CASES PUTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AT RISK AS CYCLONE SEASON BRINGS MORE FLOODING

Thousands of children in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique are at risk of deadly disease as the 2024 cyclone season threatens to bring more floods.

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