International Women’s Day Delegation to Zimbabwe
To mark International Women’s Day, the Coalition for Global Prosperity was honoured to facilitate a delegation of Labour MPs to Zimbabwe , including Dr Anna Dixon MBE MP, Adam Jogee MP, and Rachel Taylor MP, to visit UK funded development programmes supporting women and girls in education, healthcare and nutrition-intervention for life-saving work.
To begin their visit, the delegation met with the UK’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pete Vowles, and the UK’s Development Director & Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Jo Abbot to discuss UK-Zimbabwe partnerships in development.
The delegation travelled to Danda Primary School in the Mutoko District, in partnership with Plan International Zimbabwe and CBM Global Zimbabwe to observe a disability inclusive lesson delivered under the Supporting Adolescent Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme. This UK-funded gender transformative initiative supports young women and girls who have left formal education due to challenges like child marriage. By providing assistive technology and adapted learning materials for girls with disabilities, including visual and hearing impairment, the programme ensures that learners with diverse needs have the opportunity to continue their education.
The MPs engaged with students and saw firsthand how foundational literacy, vocational training, and life skills are equipping young women and girls with the tools to participate in the wider economy. The SAGE programme’s emphasis on non-formal education was instrumental in challenging gender norms to transform learning environments and design gender inclusive career pathways for young women and girls, ensuring they have the skills to fully participate in the economy.
The delegation then visited the Alaska Greenhouse Projects as part of the Urban Resilience Programme, implemented by the World Food Programme Zimbabwe. During their visit, the MPs learned about school-based agricultural initiatives designed to improve children's nutrition by promoting diverse diets and sustainable food production. They saw firsthand how these projects are not only enhancing food security in urban communities but also empowering women and girls by providing them with the skills and resources to engage in self-sustaining farming models and strengthening both their economic independence.
Partnering with the British Embassy Harare, the delegation then visited two key projects on improving neonatal healthcare and preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
At Sally Mugabe Central Hospital’s Maternity Ward in Harare, the MPs observed Neotree’s - a UK-based charity - implementations of a tablet app designed to support clinical decision-making and improve neonatal care. This health partnership brings together University College London (UCL), the University of Zimbabwe, and both British and local healthcare professionals, to strengthen Zimbabwe’s health systems through enhanced data collection and medical training, and ultimately saves lives of mothers and their babies.
The delegation spent time at the Musasa Project’s One Stop Centre and Safe Shelter, a facility dedicated to supporting survivors of GBV. The MPs visited the shelter, where women receive temporary accommodation, essential legal and psychosocial support, and skills training in farming, sewing, and cooking to rebuild their lives in a safe environment.
The visits programme concluded with the MPs partaking in a tennis session with children at Hossana Primary School, beneficiaries of the Miracle Mission Vimba and G Tennis programme, supported by British donors. The MPs also heard about the impact of donated sports equipment playing a transformative role in education and social development.
At a private dinner hosted by the Coalition for Global Prosperity, leading experts from WFP Zimbabwe, UNICEF Zimbabwe, World Vision Zimbabwe, and CBM Global joined the delegation for discussions on tackling the challenges of malnutrition. Discussions focused on the impact of nutrition-interventions in improving early childhood development and long-term health outcomes, as well as the role of UK partnerships in combating malnutrition.
As part of the visit, the delegation was also welcomed to a reception at the British Ambassador of Harare’s Residence, with huge thanks to the UK’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pete Vowles and the UK’s Development Director & Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Jo Abbot. This gathering was an opportunity for MPs to meet with NGOs and private sector representatives to discuss the UK’s development efforts in Zimbabwe, particularly in the areas of green growth and human development.
You can find a full gallery of the trip below
