Background & Structure

CARE International began operations in Zimbabwe in 1992, initially responding to a severe regional drought.

It operates under the name CARE International in Zimbabwe (CIZ) and is registered with the Ministry of Local Government.

The organization employs a few hundred staff and is recognized as a leading NGO in humanitarian aid, poverty reduction, and development.

Its headquarters are in Harare, Zimbabwe, with established communication channels for both communities and partners.

2. Mission, Focus & Strategic Framework

CARE Zimbabwe’s mission centers on addressing poverty, inequality, and social injustice, with a particular focus on women, children, and climate resilience.

Core areas of focus:

Food, nutrition & water security – Ensuring sustainable agriculture, nutrition-sensitive practices, and access to safe water.

Climate justice and resilient livelihoods – Supporting communities to adapt to climate change, diversify livelihoods, and withstand climate shocks.

Women’s economic empowerment & gender equality – Promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and the transformation of discriminatory norms.

Humanitarian response & long-term development – Bridging immediate emergency responses with sustainable, community-driven development.

Guiding principles – Programs are shaped by CARE’s SuPER principles (Sustainable, Productive, Profitable, Equitable, Resilient) and participatory approaches.

3. Key Programs & Initiatives
Program / Strategy Focus
Food & Nutrition Security Promotes sustainable farming and access to diverse, nutritious food.
Climate Resilience / Adaptation Helps communities adapt to extreme weather and diversify income sources.
Women’s Economic Empowerment Supports savings groups, enterprise development, and financial inclusion.
Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Response Builds preparedness for droughts, floods, and other shocks.
Community Engagement Uses participatory methods to address social norms and drive collective action.
4. Challenges & Context

Food insecurity and drought remain pressing concerns, worsened by climate change.

Economic constraints such as inflation and unstable currency increase project delivery costs.

Policy and regulatory barriers occasionally affect operations, including taxation and import processes.

Balancing emergency response with long-term development is an ongoing challenge.

Gender and cultural norms sometimes limit women’s participation in economic and social life, requiring sensitive community engagement.

5. Impact & Influence

CARE Zimbabwe has established itself as a key development and humanitarian partner in the country.

Its focus on women’s empowerment has strengthened financial independence and leadership opportunities for rural women.

Its climate resilience programs help communities cope with increasingly unpredictable weather.

By emphasizing community participation, CARE fosters local ownership and capacity-building, creating more sustainable change.