Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Zimbabwe
Abstract
The two-year ‘Moving Zimbabwe Forward: An Evidence Based Policy Dialogue Initiative’ was implemented by the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), University of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the University of Manchester’s Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI). The project aimed to promote poverty reduction and inclusive growth in Zimbabwe through sound policy judgements, by encouraging policy dialogue and debate, and disseminating policy-relevant information.
A total of 28 policy dialogue events were held with government policy makers and representatives from non-governmental organisations, international development partners, the private sector and academia, in the form of in-house seminars, seminars, round tables, workshops and international conferences. During implementation IES working closely with government partners, held meetings with Permanent Secretaries and other senior government officials in the Ministries of Economic Planning; Environment and Natural Resources; Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development; Lands; Labour and Social Services; Finance; Information and Communication Technologies; and the National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT).
The project generated new knowledge through a sample wellbeing and poverty survey with 3,445 households in 16 Districts throughout Zimbabwe. This provided policy makers with up-to-date information on the nature of poverty in the country.
Two books were produced: five hundred copies of the Moving Forward in Zimbabwe: Reducing Poverty and Promoting Growth report consisting of eleven chapters which were widely distributed through a national and provincial launches; and Understanding Poverty, Promoting Wellbeing and Sustainable Development: A Sample Survey of 16 Districts of Zimbabwe, a comprehensive report comprised of nine chapters of the findings, interpretations and policy recommendations from the poverty survey. Each book was accompanied by an executive summary for policy makers
Arising from the policy dialogues, three policy dialogue briefs were produced on cash transfers for development, promoting smallholder agriculture, and minerals for sustainable development. Following the ‘Pathways out of Poverty International Conference’, six conference papers were published and disseminated, while five are in draft form being edited for submission to academic journals.
Five post-graduate student researches were commissioned and draft papers and policy briefs have been produced, as well as two Masters of Science dissertations.
During the project 99 people were trained in: poverty survey implementation; data entry; and advanced poverty survey data analysis (including the use of stata).
Implementation of the project resulted in sustained interest and commitment from policy makers, who indicated the need for more research and dialogue on priority issues. A second phase of the Moving Zimbabwe Forward Policy Dialogue Initiative would keep up this momentum and build on it providing a forum for continued debate and research on sustainable development issues and promotion of green inclusive growth
