According to bank provided information, the proposed project is in line with priority number 3 of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), moving the economy up the value chains and structural transformation. The NDS1 is aimed at realizing the Country's vision 2030 by among other things prioritizing the promotion of enterprise development and job creation. The project is also aligned to Zimbabwe's Youth Policy (2000) particularly strategic areas 5.2 and 5.3 youth empowerment and participation and youth employment and access to resources, respectively.. The project is aligned with the objectives and priorities of the Zimbabwe Country Brief (CB) 2024-2026 specifically, Priority Area 2-Enhanced private sector investment for inclusive growth.

The objective is to increase employment opportunities among youth and women through skills training, increased productivity, market linkages and entrepreneurship in selected agricultural value chains. Specifically, the project is aimed at (i) building critical skills for productivity through TVET institutions in the agricultural sector, (ii) support work integrated learning (WIL) through internships and job placements and (iii) link on-farm production and private off takers for the youth and women around the targeted TVET institutions.

Le projet devrait beneficier directement aux institutions d'enseignement et de formation techniques et professionnels (TVET), ainsi qu'aux femmes et aux jeunes dans des regions specifiques, notamment Mutasa dans le Manicaland, Insiza dans le Matabeleland Sud, Gweru dans les Midlands, Chegutu dans le Mashonaland Ouest, Mt Darwin dans le Mashonaland Central, Binga dans le Matabeleland Nord et Goromonzi dans le Mashonaland Est. Il est prevu que le projet ait un impact positif sur 6 groupes, beneficiant a 200 femmes, 1 000 jeunes, 400 micro, petites et moyennes entreprises (MPME) comprenant des femmes et des jeunes, et 10 cooperatives au sein de la chaine de valeur de l'agriculture. Au total, 5 000 participants devraient beneficier de diverses initiatives de formation technique et de gestion d'entreprise par le biais d'une approche de proximite. Ces beneficiaires seront activement engages dans la production, la transformation et la commercialisation des produits agricoles dans les chaines de valeur de l'horticulture, de la chevre et du poisson. Au total, six centres de formation professionnelle ont ete identifies pour beneficier du projet, notamment Binga dans le Matabeleland Nord (aquaculture), Kaguvi dans les Midlands (horticulture), Chaminuka Mashonal et Central (horticulture), Phangani dans le Matabeleland Sud (caprins), Kukwanisa dans le Manicaland (aquaculture) et Mashayamombe Mashonaland West (aquaculture). En outre, un centre national de formation pour les femmes sera egalement soutenu pour former les femmes a l'entreprenariat, a la production aquacole et a la valorisation de l'aquaculture19. La selection des sites du projet s'est appuyee sur les elements suivants (i) les entreprises existantes dans la province sur la base de leurs conditions climatiques (ii) la disponibilite de l'institution de formation professionnelle qui fournirait la formation technique requise et agregerait les produits a proximite de la communaute (iii) la disponibilite des preneurs du secteur prive qui fourniraient un marche pret pour les produits qui seront produits et iv) la disponibilite des groupes de jeunes et de femmes orientes vers la croissance qui participent deja aux chaines de valeur selectionnees.

John NG'AMBI
Education Analyst, AHHD2
African Development Bank
j.ng'ambi@afdb.org 
www.afdb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/request-for-documents. Under the AfDBÕs Disclosure and Access to Information policy, if you feel the Bank has omitted to publish information or your request for information is unreasonably denied, you can file an appeal at https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/appeals-process 

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at: https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/