The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development across the Zambezi River Basin, which supports over 50 million people in Southern Africa.
Speaking at the inception meeting in Harare on Wednesday, FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Southern Africa Patrice Talla highlighted the strategic importance of the project, titled “Support to the Development of the Strategic Basin Investment Program to Build Resilience and Sustainable Development in the Zambezi Watercourse.”
“The Zambezi River Basin is one of Africa’s most critical transboundary resources, sustaining livelihoods, ecosystems, food systems, and energy production across eight countries,” Talla said.
The project, funded through the FAO Technical Cooperation Program with a budget of USD 250 000, is designed as a catalytic intervention.
While relatively modest in scale, it aims to unlock significantly larger investments from public, private, and climate finance sources.
“This project is intentionally designed to lay the foundations for mobilizing much larger investments in the Basin. It is the first step toward positioning the Zambezi as a priority destination for coordinated climate and development financing,” Talla explained
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) and aligns with regional frameworks such as SADC Vision 2050 and FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–2031.
Talla emphasized the urgency of collective action in the face of growing environmental and socio-economic pressures.
“The Basin is increasingly exposed to climate variability, environmental degradation, and rising demand for resources. These challenges require a coordinated, basin-wide response,” he said.
A key outcome of the project will be the development of a Strategic Basin Investment Programme (SBIP), envisioned as a regionally owned, bankable investment framework.
The program will identify priority investment areas while strengthening cooperation among Member States and partners.
Representatives from all eight Zambezi riparian countries, regional organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders attended the inception meeting to align on priorities and next steps.
Talla reaffirmed the commitment of FAO to support the process through technical assistance and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
“The success of this initiative will depend on strong leadership, active partnerships, and a shared vision for the sustainable future of the Basin,” he said.
The project is expected to play a key role in enhancing food security, building resilience for communities and ecosystems, and creating a pipeline of investments to support long-term development in the region.
New Ziana
