In late June 2002, a number of agencies including Save the Children UK, WFP, FEWS-NET, and National Early Warning Units, under the auspices of the SADC-FANR Vulnerability Assessment Committee, agreed to carry out a series of food security assessments across six countries in southern Africa. The six countries were those identified as having been worst affected by drought in the 2001-02 agricultural season, and for whom food aid has been requested under a WFP regional Emergency Operation.
In Zimbabwe, a national questionnaire-based approach was devised mainly for use in the communal areas of the country. As part of its contribution to the assessment process, SC UK agreed to carry out additional assessments using the Household Economy Approach (HEA) in areas that were considered to require more in-depth assessment, and/ or where this alternative methodological approach was considered more appropriate. These areas were identified as informal mining communities, commercial farming areas, new resettlement areas and normally food secure communal areas that border commercial areas. All of these are to be found mainly in Mashonaland East, West and Central provinces. The food security situation in these areas was not only affected by the widespread drought and prevalence of HIV/ AIDS, but was also significantly affected by the wider macroeconomic climate in the country, and by the Fast Track land reform programme.
This report covers 4 food economy zones (areas where most households obtain their food and cash income through roughly the same combination of means), and each is covered by a separate chapter.
|
Related documents