Zimbabwe’s economic and social situation deteriorated significantly over a decade culminating in a severe humanitarian crisis in 2008.  Furthermore, since the early 2000s the government of Zimbabwe cannot access direct development aid due to arrears with International Finance Institutions and sanctions imposed upon it by major donors following sustained human rights violations.

In 2013, the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) developed a medium term plan to revive the economy. But the implementation of this plan is dogged by limited fiscal space and lack of development support in public services. The World Bank developed therefore in 2014 the Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund, a multi-donor trust fund and a key instrument to support the GoZ re-engage with international partners and implement its development and poverty reduction plan as well as coordinate donor support.

The overall goal of ZIMREF is:

To contribute to strengthening of Zimbabwe‘s systems for reconstruction and development with a focus on stabilization and reform, reconstruction, development and poverty alleviation efforts in the country.

The target groups of ZIMREF are the government departments, state owned enterprises and the private sector, while the ultimate beneficiaries will be the people of Zimbabwe. Specific beneficiaries and outreach will be elaborated in the individual projects to be implemented under the 4 thematic windows of the ZIMREF.

The Swiss earmarked contribution to the ZIMREF supports one specific thematic window for which outcomes are:

• Stronger poverty-focused planning, budgeting and policy making
• Greater transparency, accountability and effectiveness in public procurement
• Improved quality and timeliness of public financial reporting
• Improved quality and scrutiny of  audit reports
• Improved governance of parastatal enterprises.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

The key outputs for the selected thematic window are:

• Public finance management enhancement project implemented
• Poverty monitoring and ZIMASSET M&E programme implemented
• Public procurement reform programme implemented.
• Parastatal reform programme implemented.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

N/A. But The ZIMREF builds on the Analytical-Multi Donor Trust fund (A-MDTF) whose key achivements were:

• Informing of governments policies and donor strategies;
• Creation of a coordination platform for donors and government.

SDC provided financial support (CHF 300,000) to the Analytical Multi Donor Trust Fund (7F-08069).

Government of Zimbabwe ( Ministry of Finance and Economic Development  & other ministries &  State Owned Enterprises);
ZIMFUND, Child Protection Fund, Zimbabwe Rural WASH;
Norway, Denmark, DFID, EU, Sweden, GIZ

Phase 1 01.12.2015 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)