Zimbabwe at a glance

The crisis and the response

• From August 2008 to July 2009, over 4,200 Zimbabweans died in one of the worst recorded cholera outbreaks in Africa.
• The high death toll – far beyond the worst case UN scenario – was the result of collapsed water and sanitation infrastructure and state health services rendered dysfunctional by political tension and hyperinflation.
• Zimbabwe continues to face widespread food insecurity. Many lack access to safe water and sanitation.
• The government’s refusal to declare an emergency and restrictions on INGOs delayed international aid and allowed the cholera outbreak to proliferate.
• The cholera crisis caught the UN unprepared. Its capacity to lead – weakened by the resentment of the Mugabe regime towards the west and high turnover of OCHA staff – was further reduced by the apparent unwillingness of the HC to confront the government.

Donor performance

• The OECD/DAC freeze on direct government-togovernment links means most funding goes through the CAP framework.
• It is difficult to quantify overall humanitarian funding: FTS data is incomplete.
• There was relatively good coordination among traditional donors: most are praised for responsiveness and flexibility.
• Donors seem fatigued: coverage of the 2010 CAP was 44 percent in October 2010.

Key challenges and areas for improvement

• Contingency planning must be realistic, factoring in the likelihood and potential consequences of further political crisis, state-directed violence and displacement.
• The widespread local perception that aid is untransparent needs to be countered.
• Independent evaluations should be encouraged, beneficiaries should be involved in their design and the results publicised.
• Substantial funding is needed for both prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
• Funding systems should be supported by robust information management systems and a facilitated process to help members agree on clear priorities, roles and responsibilities and accountability.

Read full Crisis Report (1.55 Mb)