USAID Strategic Economic Research & Analysis – Zimbabwe (SERA) Program Quarterly Progress Report

The program is implemented by Nathan Associates Inc. under contract number AID-613-C-11-00001. The SERA Program focuses on providing technical assistance to various stakeholders in Zimbabwe, including the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (ZEPARU), the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI). The program's objectives include conducting policy research, providing training and capacity building, and assisting in the implementation of economic reforms. One of the key highlights of the quarter is the completion of the 'Cost Drivers Analysis for Zimbabwe' study, which was accepted by the MIC along with its recommendations. The study's findings and recommendations were validated through a workshop attended by government and private sector representatives. The MIC has expressed its willingness to work with SERA to implement the study's recommendations. The program also provided long-term training to economists, with Nebson Mupunga successfully completing his PhD requirements at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. SERA continues to support 2 PhD students and 11 MSc students. In addition, the program assisted key partners in various initiatives, including the 'Starting a Business' study, the Transactional Corruption Survey, and the Formalizing Artisanal Small-scale Gold Mining project. The 'Starting a Business' study was validated through a workshop, and the recommendations were widely discussed and endorsed by the gathering. SERA is working with the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) to develop a set of activities to implement concrete reforms in the areas of registration process and municipal licensing in Harare. The Transactional Corruption Survey was initiated with a steering committee meeting, and a local data collection partner was competitively procured. The survey aims to gather data on transactional corruption in the business sector. The Formalizing Artisanal Small-scale Gold Mining project was co-funded by DFID and USAID, and the study report was finalized in Q14. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the gold production, processing, sales, and regulation within the sector, with the aim of formalizing the sector to create more income-generating opportunities. The program's performance monitoring indicators are outlined in Annex 2, and the implementation of the work plan is detailed in Annex 1. The program continues to face challenges, including the need to address the registration process and municipal licensing requirements in Harare. However, the program remains committed to its objectives and is working to address these challenges through its various initiatives.