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Save the Children in Zimbabwe

Since 1983 when Save the Children began operations in Zimbabwe, the organisation has remained committed to children, by supporting the government and communities to  deliver on their mandate and make the country  a better place for children.  By implementing relevant child rights programmes, responding to emergencies and advocacy efforts, major milestones  have been reached. These have all contributed towards ensuring that the Zimbabwean child survives, learns and  is protected. Over the years Save the Children responded to several emergencies in Zimbabwe, notably the cholera emergency, drought and food insecurity, Cyclone Idai emergency , the COVID-19 emergency and lately the El' Nino induced drought.

We believe in working together, empowering and strengthening local capacity, hence we work mostly  with partner organisatis, such as local non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, government departments and ministries, local authorities, communities and children themselves. All our support in the communities is given freely, regardless of ethnicity, religious or political affiliation.

The situation for children in Zimbabwe

More than half of population are children. Despite the progress that has been made, high levels of inequality exist which prevents millions of children from surviving and reaching their full potential.

One in four children under the age of five are stunted, with highest rates of stunting in rural and remote areas. Neonatal mortality rates remain high, resulting in children dying within their first month of life. 

Children, especially those living in rural and remote areas, struggle to access quality education, and many do not receive any early education, which is critical for their development. 

Our impact for children in 2024

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124,557 

people  reached through our programmes

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65,601 

children reached through our programmes

What we do

Health and Nutrition: We work with the government and partners to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and child malnutrition by scaling up high-impact interventions, advocating for improved health systems and working on social norms and behavior change.

Food Security & Livelihoods: We work with partners to strengthen resilience and sustainable livelihoods, which includes delivering cash transfers and providing life skills training to young people. We also offer financial services through savings groups and train women and youth on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and production.

Child Protection: We strengthen formal and informal child protection mechanisms to keep children safe from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. We work with parents and caregivers to help them care for their children without violence and we ensure that vulnerable children received the support and protection services they need.

Child rights governance: Our interventions, have focused broadly on budget advocacy, international treaty reporting, influencing policies and legislation and supporting the participation of children and young persons in governance matters.

Education: As co-lead of the Education Cluster and one of the largest Education actors in Zimbabwe, SC works with partners and community-based organizations to ensure learners have access to inclusive and quality education through improved infrastructure, provision of learning material, and teacher training. After Cyclone Idai, SC rehabilitated 139 schools, including gender-sensitive and accessible WASH facilities, and reached over 21,000 community members through Cyclone and Covid-19 back-to-school campaigns. 

Humanitarian response: We ensure communities are prepared for disasters, and support emergency relief efforts through the provision of supplies and on-the-ground support.

 

News & Stories

11 Feb 2026

Southern Africa: Families and children at risk of waterborne diseases as heavy downpours cause worst flooding in decades

Children displaced by some of the worst flooding across southern Africa in decades are facing a growing health crisis, with a lack of running water and destroyed sanitation facilities fuelling a spike in waterborne diseases. 

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6 Feb 2026

A CALL TO ACTION: - END VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE

Save the Children expresses deep alarm over the rapidly escalating and increasingly brutal violence against children in Zimbabwe. Recently, social media revealed a shocking rise in cases of children being sexually violated, beaten to death, burned, abducted or kidnapped thereby going missing, often at the hands of caregivers, relatives, community figures, or trusted adults. 

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6 Nov 2025

Children’s Voices Still Waiting to Be Heard: Junior MPs Call for Action on Child Labour and Trafficking

In August, Junior Parliamentarians from Hurungwe, Mudzi, Chiredzi and Harare met with Senior members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Child Rights, submitting a powerful motion that called for urgent national measures to protect children from child labour and child trafficking. The Senior Parliamentarians welcomed the motion and pledged to push it in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, ensuring that children’s voices are represented in national decision-making.

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