Bulawayo, (New Ziana)– Zimbabwe has recorded notable gains in child survival, nutrition, education and protection in recent years despite climate-induced shocks, constrained public finances and dwindling development assistance, the United Nations Children’s Fund, formerly the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has said.
In its 2025 Annual report, UNICEF said last year marked a critical turning point for children in the country, highlighting that unless investments in frontline services are urgently protected and strengthened, the most vulnerable children the country risk being left behind.
“At a time of shrinking development assistance, constrained public resources, economic pressures and climate-induced shocks, the promise of survival, learning and protection became fragile – especially for newborns, adolescent girls, children with disabilities and those living in rural and climate-vulnerable communities,” it said, adding access to essential services, safety and opportunities for children is increasingly under pressure.
According to UNCEF, rising neonatal and infant mortality rates demonstrate that gains in child survival cannot be taken for granted.
“Our 2025 Country Office Annual Report shows that hard-won gains for children cannot be taken for granted. A case in point is the evidence of increasing neonatal and infant mortality rates. This reminds us that progress in child survival depends not only on access to services, but on quality care at birth and sustained investment in frontline systems,” it said.
UNICEF also highlighted persistent food poverty, saying many young children continue to miss out on adequate nutrition needed for healthy growth and development, while adolescents face growing challenges linked to poor diets, undernutrition and psychosocial risks.
It noted that climate-related disasters and disease outbreaks have further exposed inequalities affecting the country’s most marginalised children.
Despite the challenges, UNICEF said the country recorded notable achievements through strong government leadership and partnerships.
It said 4.9 million children were protected through life-saving immunisation programs, reducing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, while 30 district hospitals consistently provided quality essential newborn care.
UNICEF also noted improvements in child nutrition, with the proportion of young children consuming a diverse diet increasing to 27 percent from just 5 percent previously, adding more than 18 000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition received life-saving treatment.
In education, UNICEF said 1 066 teachers and school inspectors strengthened their capacity to deliver age-appropriate, inclusive and play-based learning, while about 625 000 learners in disadvantaged schools benefited from improved classrooms, learning materials as well as better water and sanitation facilities.
UNICEF further said 99 percent of children in conflict with the law were diverted from detention and supported through rehabilitation and family reunification programs, while 51 747 children affected by violence accessed integrated protection, health and justice services.
It also highlighted progress in youth empowerment, saying more than 16 000 young people acquired digital, green and entrepreneurship skills to improve their employment prospects, while over 2 400 adolescents received support on HIV prevention, mental health, sexually transmitted infections and gender-based violence.
On humanitarian response, it said more than 22 000 people gained sustained access to safe drinking water, while 1.4 million people received emergency water, sanitation and hygiene services during the cholera outbreak, helping reduce disease transmission.
However, UNICEF warned that declining external financing, weak budget execution and under-resourced frontline services continue to threaten progress.
“The central message of this report is unequivocal that children cannot wait for better conditions. Weak budget execution, declining external financing and under-resourced frontline services threaten to deepen inequities unless urgently addressed,” it explained.
UNICEF implored authorities and development partners to ensure financing commitments translate into timely service delivery at community level while strengthening climate resilience, disability inclusion, adolescent-responsive services and evidence-based planning.
It pledged to continue working with the government and partners to safeguard children’s rights and wellbeing.
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