Social Protection
NANZ promotes the protection of vulnerable groups including children, People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and older people. The network advocates for equitable and adequate access to social safety nets including social pensions for older persons, disability grants for People With Disabilities (PWDs) as well as children and improved access to basic services such as health, education, emergency assistance, and are free from all forms of violence and abuse.
We realised that social protection can be improved by increasing the agency of vulnerable populations. Thus, the “Supporting Older Persons Project” implemented in collaboration with Island Hospice and Health Care seeks to promote older citizen agency through Older Citizens Monitoring (OCM). This is targeting older persons living in marginalised communities.
Collaborating with the Older Persons Board in facilitating Older Persons Policy formulation and the National Healthy Ageing Strategy re-engagement. NANZ has conducted studies in collaboration with the University of Nottingham (UoN) and Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) to investigate how traditional leadership can be integrated into modern governance systems and adopt ICTs in their governance. These studies have resulted in the development of an improved Zunde RaMambo model, that will re-establish the role of traditional leaders in the social protection of their jurisdiction.
We noted with concern violations of human rights and the exclusion of populations of concern during humanitarian response. Together with our partners, we strive to promote accountability and inclusion (based on the SPHERE principles) in emergency response by building the capacities of affected communities to monitor the response efforts in their areas. Through the support from HelpAge international and the START Fund, we have developed Community Led MEAL tools (based on our OCM model).
The COVID-19 pandemic outlined the poor care home standards in Zimbabwe. NANZ through the Older Person’s board has been working to develop improved care home standards that improve the quality of care for residents.
Livelihood and Economic Strengthening
NANZ works in frontlines of designing and developing innovative sustainable livelihoods and economic strengthening projects for marginalised communities across Zimbabwe. In response to the sustained economic challenges and climate change, NANZ has been developing appropriate solutions for the different communities in Zimbabwe particularly aimed at bridging the labour gap. We realise that the independence of older persons, women and PWDs may be curtailed by their limited and diminishing labour capability. Technology can be harnessed to bridge this gap thereby reducing social exclusion.
Realising that IDPs face cross-cutting vulnerabilities such as economic shocks, social and economic marginalisation, hopelessness, land tenure and threats of eviction, NANZ collaborated with both local academic institutions (Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Women’s University in Africa and the University of Zimbabwe) and international academic institutions (the University of Nottingham and the University of Wolverhampton) to research on suitable sustainable resilience mechanisms for the IDP context. The IDP communities received training for transformation, business training, technical training and start-up equipment and raw materials. NANZ also adopted the Matarenda concept applied by the ZAOGA FiF church and is applying it in the IDP context as an asset-building model.
We strive to lengthen the productive lifespan of older persons through innovative, climate-smart and environmentally friendly farming techniques. We have continued to research and design new farming techniques for arid and semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe that ensure that the ageing population and people with diminished labour capacities remain productive and live active life. We have worked with Zimbabwe Farmers Union and Helpage Zimbabwe with the support of HelpAge International and SADC in promoting labour-saving technologies in agriculture. We are currently working with Kulima Mbobumi Training Centre to develop models for sustainable livelihoods in Binga and other areas along the Zambezi Valley and other fragile regions in Manicaland. NANZ is also developing sustainable models of creating value chains through post-harvest processing, processing of Non-Timber Forest Products, and capacitating communities to create new markets for their products.
Our program development takes a life course approach to ageing, with an understanding of the importance of health in achieving longevity and healthy ageing. Health interventions highlight the importance of several facets of health ageing such as access to primary health care, nutrition, public health, psychosocial support, and WASH.
Health and Health Access
The network (NANZ, CCDS and IHHC) implemented the Better Health for Older People in Africa program funded through U.K. aid, aimed at improving the access to health care services to combat symptoms of poverty and alleviate long-term illnesses.
In response to the trauma-related mental issues after the Cyclone Idai disaster, NANZ and its partners Helpage Zimbabwe, Partnership for Development Trust (PDI) and Island Hospice and Healthcare implemented the “Strengthening Older Persons Support in Humanitarian Action” (SOSHA) funded by DEC, ADH and HelpAge Germany, aimed at improving post disaster recovery through psychosocial support in Chimanimani and Chipinge and increasing the agency of OPs during disasters.
The network has been at the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. Through multi-country initiatives supported by the OSISA, the nutritional needs of OPs are supported while COVID-19 referral pathways have been developed.
Through collaborations with academic institutions, (Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Women’s University in Africa and the University of Zimbabwe) and abroad (the University of Nottingham and the University of Wolverhampton), campaigns to promote vaccine acceptance and mobile vaccinations have been facilitated through the consortium.
Disaster Risk Management
We strive for a society where more people of all ages especially those living in disaster-prone areas are supported to prepare for and withstand the impact of shocks in their socio-political and natural environments. The network has participated in several emergency response efforts, from natural disasters to +pandemics. NANZ and its partners Helpage Zimbabwe, Partnership for Development Initiative (PDI) and Island Hospice and Healthcare implemented the “Strengthening Older Persons Support in Humanitarian Action” (SOSHA) funded by DEC, ADH and HelpAge Germany, aimed at improving disaster response and post-disaster recovery through psychosocial support in Chimanimani and Chipinge and increasing the agency of OPs after the cyclone Idai disaster. Emergency response efforts have continued in these fragile districts in response to the subsequent floods and drought. Food aid in response to the 2021/22 drought, funded by OSISA and the Global Emergency Fund is currently underway, to reduce the nutrition gap among vulnerable OPs.
