Climate Change Policy Brief: En-Gendering Climate Change Response in Zimbabwe — Case Study of Makoni District

A policy brief drawn from WLSA’s Makoni District study arguing that agroecology — not the industrial-model “climate-smart agriculture” promoted by the conventions Zimbabwe has signed — should frame climate-resilient agriculture. Centres women smallholder farmers, who make up most of the agricultural labour yet largely lack control over land and resources, and calls for a policy shift toward food sovereignty.

• Women are ~61% of Zimbabwe’s farmers and over 70% of agricultural labour, yet most do not control land.
• Industrial/climate-smart agriculture locks food systems into fossil-fuel dependence and pesticide reliance.
• Indigenous seed varieties used in agroecology significantly lower farming costs versus hybrid seed.
• Around 91–92% of the rural population depends on agriculture; women have long practised agroecology.

• Adopt agroecology within a food-sovereignty framework as the national climate-resilient agriculture framework.
• Embed agroecology in food security, rural development and climate policies.
• Protect women’s rights to land and natural resources and strengthen their participation in governance.
• Support indigenous seed use, local knowledge and farmer-to-farmer sharing.