USAID/Zimbabwe Resilience through Accelerating New Community-based Holistic Outcomes for Resource Sustainability (Resilience ANCHORS) Activity Annual Work Plan – Revised (V2)

The project focuses on building the resilience of local communities to climate and economic shocks by leveraging their natural resources, including wildlife and natural habitats. The SVC landscape, covering an area of 344,210 hectares, is part of the Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) and consists of 30 land titles that form 22 management properties. The area has a rich biodiversity, with several wildlife species, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, and buffaloes. However, human settlement encroachment into the SVC has led to increased poaching and human-wildlife conflict, necessitating ecological restoration and re-planning to effectively organize three land uses: wildlife, human settlement, and agriculture. The project will target four wards in Bikita and Chiredzi communal areas, with a focus on Nyangambe Ward 23 in Chiredzi district, which has a population of 5,531 and 1,103 households. The poverty severity index for Nyangambe Ward 23 is estimated at 16.3%. The project aims to address weaknesses in the existing community conservancy model and improve its governance systems and structures to enhance communities' economic benefits and opportunities. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the lead implementing partner for the SVC landscape, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) citing Savé Valley Landscape and the surrounding areas as a priority area for its interventions. AWF's work in SVC focuses on strengthening law enforcement, combating poaching, and supporting community conservancies. The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) will focus on strengthening environmental law, water, and natural resources governance to benefit targeted communities. ZELA will support Resilience ANCHORS through strengthening local level policy and legal frameworks related to land use and natural resource management; building the capacity of community-based resource governance institutions; and building the capacity of communities, local authorities, and other landscape stakeholders to effectively manage natural resources. The project will implement a range of activities, including community engagement and outreach, capacity building, and infrastructure development. The project will also establish a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The project's overall goal is to promote community-based conservation and sustainable resource management in the SVC landscape, thereby enhancing the resilience of local communities to climate and economic shocks. The project's implementation period is from April 1 to September 30, 2021, with a focus on the SVC landscape. The project's budget for Fiscal Year 2021 is outlined in the Annual Work Plan, which includes funding for activities such as community engagement, capacity building, and infrastructure development. The project's success will depend on effective collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and implementing partners. The project's geographic focus is on the SVC landscape, which covers an area of 344,210 hectares in Zimbabwe's Southeast Lowveld. The project's target communities are located in Bikita and Chiredzi communal areas, with a focus on Nyangambe Ward 23 in Chiredzi district. The project's timeframes are outlined in the Annual Work Plan, which includes a detailed timeline for implementation activities. The project's recommendations include the need for effective collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and implementing partners. The project also recommends the establishment of a MEL Plan to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The project's overall goal is to promote community-based conservation and sustainable resource management in the SVC landscape, thereby enhancing the resilience of local communities to climate and economic shocks.