Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a predominantly tropical climate, with a rainy season from November to March and a dry season from April to October. Agriculture is a vital sector for the country’s economy, with over two thirds of the population relying on farming for their livelihoods. However, Zimbabwe faces challenges such as land degradation, climate variability, and water scarcity, which impact agricultural productivity and food security. Despite these challenges, the country holds significant potential for sustainable agriculture through improved land management practices and the adoption of innovative technologies.

IWMI in Zimbabwe

IWMI’s work in Zimbabwe focuses on enhancing agricultural resilience and sustainability through a series of strategic initiatives. Key projects involve the scoping of digital technologies in agriculture, identifying opportunities and challenges for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zimbabwe. Another notable project involves modeling water flows in the Limpopo River Basin using drone technology to improve water resource management.

Launches in integrated landscape management seeks to restore degraded landscapes, promoting sustainability and livelihoods in rural communities. Additionally, researchers have explored biomass and nutrient flow dynamics to inform sustainable farming practices that address environmental challenges, helping farmers to de-risk their operations and enhance productivity. Through these projects, IWMI is supporting Zimbabwe’s transition to more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Contact

Henry Roman

Henry Roman

Country Representative – South Africa

Contact our office in Zimbabwe.

Contact the media team.

Contact our global HQ.

Projects in Zimbabwe

Latest Zimbabwe news

Can a simple solution offer a lifeline to communities confronting climate change?

Sand dams are found to be a vital niche option in a diversified water storage system to improve local water access and resilience in Zimbabwe …

Citizen scientists take the lead in tracking Southern Africa’s transboundary river basin 

Local monitoring feeds near-real-time water data into the Limpopo Basin Digital Twin, supporting more informed, basin-wide decisions …

IWMI’s debut at G20 highlights the need to drive data-informed water policy

As a member of the G20 Advisory Committee, IWMI is driving a renewed focus on water security, explains regional representative for Southern Africa Henry Roman …

Digital innovation and citizen science to preserve freshwater systems

A new IWMI project aims to create a transboundary citizen science network across southern Africa, using digital tools to collect data that will influence policy decisions that directly affect their …

Latest Zimbabwe publications

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Brief

Scaling sand dams in Southern Africa: policy guidance for optimizing rollout within an integrated water storage framework

International Water Management Institute | November 17th, 2025
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Open Access
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Journal Article

Recent drought prevalence in the Limpopo River Basin: insights from the digital twin platform

Springer | February, 2025
Ghosh, Surajit; Vigneswaran, Kayathri; Dickens, Chris; Retief, H.; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel
Limited Access
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Brief

NEXUS Gains in the Incomati and Limpopo basins: Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

International Water Management Institute | December 30th, 2024
CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
Open Access