EU gives rural communities €676k

Lazarus Sauti

The European Union (EU) has injected €676 425 into a project meant to strengthen social accountability in rural areas in Zimbabwe.

Executed by the Civic Forum on Human Development (CFHD) in partnership with the Association of Rural District Councils (ARDC) of Zimbabwe and the Centre for Community Development Solutions (CCDS), the project will be implemented in Mutoko and Hwedza in Mashonaland East as well as in Nyaminyami, Hurungwe and Sanyati in Mashonaland West over a period of three years.

In a speech read on his behalf by EU Project Manager Linda Kalenga at the launch of the project in Mudzi recently, Head of EU Delegation to Zimbabwe Ambassador Philippe Van Damme, said: “We hope the project will increase democratic participation in government by all citizens and communities of Zimbabwe..., and lead to enhanced service delivery and improved quality of life of citizens,” he said, adding that the overall objective of the project is to promote sustainable and accountable governance in the management of public resources at local government level for effective service delivery.

He added: “The project also aims to promote gender equality by ensuring that both men and women participate in the dialogue on accountability and service delivery with the Rural District Councils and other relevant institutions.

“The project has a total budget of €676 425 (95% from EU) and will be implemented over a period of 36 months.”

Chief Technical Director for the CFHD Absolom Masendeke said the specific objective of the project is to enhance supply and demand side effectiveness, efficiency, over and above good operational management for service provision through a better understanding of the public resource management framework in the country.

Acting CEO for Mudzi RDC Farai Mutambatuwisi believes the project has come at the right time for selected rural councils in the country.


“It has come at the right time, and we have started engaging the business community and the residence association in a bid to come up with inclusive service delivery in sync with the strategic objective of the EU’s development co-operation with Zimbabwe, outlined in the National Indicative Programme signed between the EU and the government on 16 February 2015, to support peace and stability by supporting inclusive and sustainable growth,” Mutambatuwisi said.

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