Zimbabwe Project

Zimbabwe’s National Climate Policy (2017) highlighted establishing GHG monitoring systems and support mechanisms for GHG mitigation as a livestock sector priority, and although a CSA Investment Plan prepared by the World Bank identified several investment options, the previous NDC did not include livestock mitigation due to lack of a sufficient evidence base. Zimbabwe’s inventory was compiled using the Tier 1 method. Walter Svinuarai (now at University of Zimbabwe), who had been engaged for several years as technical consultant to support livestock inventory compilation, was championing inventory improvements using the Tier 2 method, but had little technical experience of how to do this.

Support was provided in two phases. The objective of the first phase was to support Zimbabwe to develop a Tier 2 GHG inventory for cattle, including identifying improvement priorities. A second phase aimed to:

(1) collect priority missing data and update and improve the Tier 2 inventory;

(2) strengthen capacities for inventory compilation and sustainable management; and

(3) assess GHG mitigation options in the cattle sub-sector.

• GHG inventory improvement: An initial Tier 2 inventory was compiled using the best available information and improvement priorities were identified. Farm surveys collected data on important parameters in the key production systems and was used to update the inventory using improved data and new population data. Staff at the Department for Livestock Research (DLR), Climate Change Management Department (CCMD) in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and other stakeholders were continually involved in the compilation process and were trained in how to update and manage the Tier 2 inventory. Excel-based GHG calculator tools, a user manual, inventory report template and SOPs were developed. DLR now has the lead role in livestock inventory compilation, with technical support from experts at the University of Zimbabwe, and Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), and CCMD is strongly supportive of these revised institutional arrangements

• GHG mitigation options: At the request of the Ministry of Environment, the national consultant undertook a rapid assessment of the GHG mitigation potential of improved cattle feeding and animal health. This was incorporated in Zimbabwe’s February 2025 NDC Statement. The project then supported the national consultant to undertake a more detailed and robust assessment, results of which will inform the updated NDC later in 2025. The assessment identified potential to increase beef production while reducing GHG emission intensity through improved feed and animal health management, and to significantly increase milk production and reduce GHG emission intensity in the dairy sector through improved breeding. The assessment report has been disseminated to key stakeholders involved in discussions on national livestock and climate policy. The project was also instrumental in catalysing investment in livestock climate action and MRV by CCAC and FAO.

The Tier 2 inventory supports further policy development and climate action: In 2017, lack of a fit-for-purpose MRV system was identified as a barrier to elaborating livestock sector GHG mitigation options. The Tier 2 inventory provides a good evidence-base to assess and identify mitigation options in the cattle sub-sector and can be used to track the effects of policies and measures implemented. The availability of a Tier 2 inventory has already begun to unlock investment by development partners in low-emission livestock climate action, and key policy stakeholders are actively engaging in policy discussions (including NDC updating) on low-emission, climate resilient livestock production.