At the global level, the GEF’s international waters focal area addresses the sustainable management of transboundary water resources, including rivers, lakes, aquifers, and marine ecosystems, that are shared by two or more countries. The GEF fosters cooperation among riparian nations to address competing water uses, pollution, overfishing, and the impacts of climate change on water availability. Through its projects, the GEF promotes integrated water resource management (IWRM), supports the development of joint governance frameworks such as river basin commissions, and helps countries build resilience to water-related risks.

Zimbabwe shares several transboundary river basins with its neighbours, making cooperation over shared water resources essential for regional stability, food security, and ecosystem health. A flagship project under this focal area is the Management of Competing Water Uses and Associated Ecosystems in the Pungwe, Buzi, and Save (BUPUSA) Basins, a US$6 million full-size GEF project implemented by IUCN in partnership with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The project’s objective is to strengthen transboundary cooperation and management of water resources and associated ecosystems for improved water security, climate change resilience, and sustainable livelihoods across the shared basins. A key outcome has been the development of a Strategic Action Programme for the BUPUSA Tri-basin, which unlocks transboundary investments and paves the way for the establishment of a formal Tri-basin Commission.

Beyond the BUPUSA initiative, Zimbabwe also participates in GEF-funded transboundary projects in the Limpopo River Basin, which involve four southern African countries and promote basin-wide cooperation through evidence-based joint management and planning. These international waters projects address escalating social, economic, and environmental challenges, including competing demands from agriculture, industry, and domestic use, while building resilience to climate change. By fostering dialogue, data sharing, and coordinated management across borders, the GEF is helping Zimbabwe and its neighbours achieve water security and sustainable development in some of the region’s most vital and vulnerable river systems.