Introducing CAN Zimbabwe
16 June 2021
The Climate Action Network Zimbabwe (CANZIM) is a registered coalition of civil society organisations in Zimbabwe interested or working on climate and developmental issues in Zimbabwe. CANZIM aims to be a powerful national network of civil society organisations in Zimbabwe driving collective and sustainable action to fight the climate crisis and to achieve social and racial justice. CANZIM targets to successfully implement radical and sustainable solutions across sectors, cities and communities. Our mission is to support a participatory and inclusive just transition and that centres around the needs of the most vulnerable, the most marginalised and that protects nature. CAN Zimbabwe’s vision is a transformational change in our societies and economies that ensures equity and justice; poverty eradication; sustainable livelihoods; and the protection of the rights of nature.
CANZIM was established at the 2021 CAN General Assembly with a membership of over 90 members across the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. The main pillars which guide our work are: mobilise, connect and influence.
Mobilise
CANZIM aims to sensitise stakeholders including civil society organisation to embrace the climate agenda in their respective work. In this, CANZim is working with traditional climate players and also the climate nexus organisations such as those working on health, agriculture etc.
Connect
CANZIM will strengthen counter voices towards the duty bearers. CANZIM will connect with like-minded organisations for joint action to accelerate efforts towards addressing climate change and variability in Zimbabwe.
Influence
CANZIM will influence power holders and duty bearers towards addressing the climate crisis. CANZIM will work with community-based organisations in making sure that their voice has a say in the development of policy at the national level.
In its advocacy work, CANZIM will develop positions influencing budget allocations towards addressing climate change and variability from the national fiscus and positions to influence conference of parties (COPs) related positions. CANZim will make sure its members will participate in environment-related programmes in Zimbabwe from policy formulation to implementation. CANZIM will work with Parliamentarians and Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
Zimbabwe Youth Position on NDC
In May 2021 there was a youth consultation to develop a Zimbabwe Youth Position on the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Enhancement process with support from United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Youth Consultations on the NDCs Enhancement Process accommodated youths from all ten provinces of Zimbabwe and a total of 60 individuals from CANZIM members participated. The first session was in Bulawayo and representatives from Bulawayo , Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces were fully represented. The Second session was in Mutare and there were representatives from Manicaland Province. The third Session was held in Bindura with participants from Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West Provinces. The final session was held in Harare with participants from Harare, Mashonaland East, Midlands and Masvingo Provinces. In total more than two hundred youths were consulted including youths from rural areas.
The objective was to discuss the NDC revision process with youth representatives, to capture youth interventions and contributions on enhancing NDCs for Zimbabwe, to facilitate youth involvement in the process, minimise the information gap, enhance their understanding, and instill a sense of ownership in the entire NDC process up to implementation and to develop and foster synergy among youth, youth-led organisations, local government institutions and the Climate Change Management Department. The key outputs were to develop a Youth Position Paper, have strong youth structures aware of climate change policies and response measures at national and international level and increased youth participation and engagement in the NDCs enhancement process.