World Vision has launched a pivotal 15-month project in Zimbabwe’s Mudzi district, Mashonaland East province, signalling a new era in nutrition and child protection. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), this project, dubbed “Protection and Nutrition Emergency Response” (PRONE for Mudzi), targets a crucial reduction in malnutrition while enhancing child protection by bolstering the availability of nutritious foods in the district.
In an innovative move, PRONE for Mudzi will join forces with the Musasa Project to promote gender equity and expand access to gender-based violence (GBV) protection services. This partnership aims to provide comprehensive support to GBV survivors and foster positive attitudes towards gender equity and GBV prevention through targeted communication strategies.
As part of its strategy, the project will launch GBV awareness campaigns and establish one-stop centres across the district. These initiatives are designed to offer tangible support and resources to those affected by GBV, marking a significant step forward in community-based protection.
According to a report by Newsday, Assan Golowa, the National Director of World Vision Zimbabwe, praised USAID’s vital financial and technical backing for the PRONE for Mudzi programme. “This programme is timely, addressing the pressing nutrition, gender, and protection needs in Mudzi. Its impact will significantly reinforce maternal, infant, and young child nutrition, alongside GBV prevention and response efforts,” Golowa remarked.
Highlighting the aftermath of COVID-19, Golowa underscored the ongoing challenges faced by impoverished communities. “The pandemic’s disruptions continue to affect many children and communities. PRONE for Mudzi focuses on educating these communities about the importance of improved nutrition practices. It will also bolster community-based management of acute malnutrition through training and monitoring of village health workers,” he added.
The initiative will also enhance clinic capabilities for screening and treating malnutrition cases. Beneficiaries will receive cash vouchers to help meet their basic needs, further supporting the project’s holistic approach.
Musasa Project’s Programmes Officer, Tinashe Chitunhu, stressed the link between food insecurity, child marriages, and GBV. “Musasa’s involvement centres on mitigating GBV through awareness-raising, community dialogues, and providing GBV services to remote areas in Mudzi,” Chitunhu explained. “Our focus is on ensuring that humanitarian efforts do no harm and uphold the values, standards, and norms of humanitarian work.”
