Zimbabwe’s Most Vulnerable Communities To Suffer As WFP Closes Office

By Shingirai Vambe

Zimbabwe is bracing itself for the devastating impact of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) decision to close its southern Africa office in Johannesburg. This move comes as a direct result of the Trump administration’s drastic aid cuts, which have left the WFP scrambling to streamline its operations.

The closure of the southern Africa office will have far-reaching consequences for Zimbabwe, which is already struggling to cope with the aftermath of its worst drought in decades. The drought, which occurred last year, destroyed crops and left 27 million people in danger of hunger. The WFP had made a call for $147 million in donations to help those in need, even before the US aid cuts.

The WFP’s decision to consolidate its southern and east Africa operations into one regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, will undoubtedly affect its ability to provide food assistance to vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe. The country is heavily reliant on aid, and the WFP’s programs have been a lifeline for many families.

The WFP’s aid has been crucial in supporting the Tongogara refugee camp in Chipinge, which provides shelter and food to thousands of refugees. The camp is already struggling to cope with the influx of new arrivals, and the reduction in aid will only exacerbate the situation.

The impact of the WFP office closure will be felt across various sectors in Zimbabwe. The country’s agricultural sector, which is still reeling from the effects of the drought, will be severely affected. The WFP’s food assistance programs have been instrumental in supporting small-scale farmers and vulnerable communities, and the reduction in aid will leave many without access to vital food supplies.

Furthermore, the WFP office closure will also have a significant impact on Zimbabwe’s economy. The country is already struggling to cope with a severe economic crisis, characterized by high inflation, unemployment, and poverty. The reduction in aid will only exacerbate the situation, leaving many Zimbabweans without access to basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education.

The international community has been criticized for its slow response to the crisis in Zimbabwe. The country’s humanitarian situation has been deteriorating for years, and the WFP office closure is just the latest blow. Many are calling for urgent action to address the crisis, including increased funding for humanitarian programs and support for small-scale farmers and vulnerable communities.

As the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, it is clear that urgent action is needed to address the crisis. The WFP office closure is just the latest blow to a country that is already struggling to cope with the effects of drought, economic crisis, and humanitarian disaster. It remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the crisis, but one thing is clear: Zimbabwe needs help, and it needs it now.

Meanwhile, the Dutch government has announced a significant shift in its approach to foreign trade and development aid, prioritizing national interests over traditional aid programs. This new strategy includes massive budget cuts of €2.4 billion annually starting in 2027, reducing the development aid budget from €6.1 billion to €3.8 billion.

At the heart of this new approach is a focus on areas that directly benefit the Netherlands, such as water management, food security, and health. The country will leverage its expertise in water infrastructure and coastal protection, strengthen Dutch agribusiness supply chains, and prioritize maternal and child healthcare.

However, this shift in focus comes at the cost of several traditional aid programs. Funding for gender equality programs, including support for UN Women, will be phased out. Vocational and higher education programs in Africa will be discontinued, along with support for sports and cultural projects. Climate-related funding will also see significant reductions, particularly for small-scale renewable energy and regional climate funds.

The Dutch government will also concentrate its aid efforts on a limited number of countries, primarily in Europe’s neighboring regions. Development programs in West Africa, the Horn of Africa, and North Africa & the Middle East (MENA) will continue, while programs outside these priority regions will be phased out.

Migration control has become a core objective, with aid linked to agreements aimed at curbing irregular migration. The Netherlands will invest more in regional refugee assistance programs and strengthen migration cooperation with key transit and origin countries.

Dutch businesses will also see increased opportunities through trade-focused aid initiatives. The government will provide greater incentives for Dutch companies to secure international contracts through public-private partnerships and explore concessional loans to finance projects involving Dutch companies.

While humanitarian assistance will remain a priority, funding for UN humanitarian agencies like United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Red Cross will be reduced. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF will see funding reductions of about 50%.

This significant shift in the Dutch government’s approach to development aid is expected to have far-reaching implications for various regions and partners. As the government prioritizes national interests, traditional aid programs will be scaled back or eliminated, and funding will focus on a few core themes and regions.