Zimbabwe DSL-IP Project

Drylands Sustainable Landscapes-Impact Programme

The Zimbabwe Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSL-IP) focuses on restoring degraded land and forests in the Save and Runde catchments. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF 7) and implemented by FAO in partnership with government agencies and NGOs.

Goal

To promote sustainable land and forest management while improving ecosystem resilience and livelihoods.

Key Targets
  • 2,150 haland restored
  • 172,540 haunder improved practices
  • 26 million tCO₂eemissions mitigated
  • 15,000 beneficiaries(≥52% women)
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Key Achievements

Land Restoration & Climate Impact

  • 2,989 ha restored (exceeds target)
  • 155,986 ha under community forest management (exceeds 130,000 ha target)
  • 5% of emissions target achieved
  • 705 ha rehabilitated through gully restoration

Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

26,400 ha under climate-smart agriculture (88% of target)

Adoption of:

  • Pfumvudza/Conservation Agriculture
  • Agroforestry (3,623 ha)
  • Terracing and water conservation

Livelihoods & Value Chains

US$37,000 revenue generated from green value chains.

15 business plans developedfor producer groups

200 savings groups mobilized

  • Savings: US$58,000
  • Loans: US$84,600

Gender & Inclusion

63% of beneficiaries are women(above 52% target)

Women hold >52% leadership positions

Strong participation in:

  • Farmer Field Schools
  • Savings groups
  • Value chains

Institutional Strengthening

  • Functional LDN Technical Working Groupsat all levels
  • 11 Environmental Sub-Committees trained
  • Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP) piloted successfully

G7 DSL-IP

The progress stages:

1

Planning and Approval (2020 – 2021)

  • Framework Design: Secured Global Environment Facility (GEF) framework clearance alongside 10 other dryland nations [DSL-IP umbrella program framework].
  • National Alignment: Designed the Zimbabwe-specific child project under FAO leadership to target the vulnerable Save and Runde river catchments [Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program: Dryland Sustainable Landscapes].
  • Co-funding Secured: Established co-financing partnerships between international donors, the Zimbabwean government, and local environmental civil groups.
 

2

Launch and Governance (2022 – 2023)

  • Official Inception: Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife to tackle national Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets [The agency through the GEF7 Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme is t…].
  • Institutional Setup: Formed the Project Steering Committee (PSC) to coordinate field actions between the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Forestry Commission, and ZimParks [Action is happening in Zimbabwe’s drylands. The agency with support from the Dryla…].
  • Target Mapping: Demarcated 44 sub-national project targets across 3 provinces to locate high-risk, degraded dryland ecosystems.
 

3

Implementation and Upscaling (2024 – Present)

  • andscape Protection: Placed over 200,000 hectares of degraded woodland and agricultural soil under active, climate-smart restoration management [Over 200 000 hectares placed under sustainable land and forest management].
  • Community Infrastructure: Constructed integrated Community Seed Banks (CSBs), solar-powered boreholes, and tree nurseries to preserve drought-resistant crops [Empowering Zimbabwe’s drylands: How the DSLIP project is transforming lives].
  • Market Commercialisation: Equipped local farmer groups with climate-smart machinery and business training to process and sell native products like Marula fruit and indigenous herbal teas [Government commissions climate-smart farming equipment to strengthen dryland livelihoods and restore degraded landscapes, Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme].