Eight nations sharing the Zambezi River Basin have taken a decisive step toward securing a $130 million financing package aimed at bolstering food security, climate resilience, and local livelihoods. Following a three-day regional workshop held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from September 9 to 11, 2026, representatives from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe reached a consensus on priority investments, marking significant progress ahead of a formal appraisal mission.
The initiative, known as the Programme for Building Resilience of Food, Livelihoods and Ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin (BREFOLE-ZRB), is currently being refined into a bankable investment portfolio. During the Harare gathering, delegates from the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) collaborated with national officials to finalize financing allocations, institutional safeguards, and implementation frameworks.
The Zambezi River Basin is a vital lifeline for millions, supporting diverse sectors including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and hydropower. However, the region is increasingly vulnerable to the intensifying effects of climate change, characterized by cyclical patterns of severe drought, catastrophic flooding, land degradation, and unpredictable weather variability. BREFOLE-ZRB is designed to mitigate these risks through a comprehensive four-pillar approach: natural resource management, community-based climate resilience, institutional capacity building, and regional knowledge exchange.
Proposed interventions under this programme include landscape restoration, improved water management systems, and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Furthermore, the programme aims to strengthen agricultural value chains and create tangible economic opportunities for women and young people, who are often the most disproportionately affected by environmental shocks.
Dr. Laouali Garba, Division Manager for Agricultural Research, Production and Sustainability at the African Development Bank, emphasized that the primary objective is to ensure that international mobilization of capital translates into measurable improvements for local communities. “We planted together, and we need to harvest together for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities of the Zambezi basin,” Dr. Garba stated during the proceedings.
A key focus of the workshop was ensuring that national initiatives align with transboundary objectives. ZAMCOM Executive Secretary Felix Ngamlagosi stressed that the program’s strength lies in its collective impact. “While the individual investments must respond to the priorities of each participating country, they must all contribute to common basin-wide results,” he noted.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the workshop recommended that member states commit to dedicating at least 10% of their national budgets toward the programme’s priority areas. Delegates also underscored the necessity of robust governance frameworks, including the enhancement of community-level capacity, the implementation of gender-outcome tracking, and the strengthening of land governance policies.
Eyerusalem Fasika, the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for Zimbabwe, echoed the call for urgency and technical precision in the project’s development. “We have a shared responsibility to prepare a high-quality, bankable investment programme,” she noted in comments delivered on her behalf. She urged participating countries to prioritize the timely submission of data and compliance requirements to keep the momentum toward the $130 million financing package on track.
While this workshop represents a critical milestone in the development of the BREFOLE-ZRB, it serves as a preparatory phase rather than a final approval of the funds. The participating nations and development partners must now move forward with the appraisal mission, finalizing the safeguards and technical inputs necessary to unlock the capital required to secure the future of the Zambezi Basin.
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