Fighting Poverty in Zimbabwe

Facts about Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has long struggled to feed its own people due to severe droughts and the effects of a land reform program. While the fall of Robert Mugabe in 2017 freed up politics and the media, the country remains cash-strapped and impoverished.

Zimbabwe, along with much of sub-Saharan Africa, is on the verge of a crisis. By 2035, the International Monetary Fund estimates the number of Africans joining the working age population will exceed the rest of the world combined. To fill this surge, 18 million new jobs will have to be created each year for the next 20 years across sub-Saharan Africa. In the meantime, Zimbabweans rely on the informal sector for a chance to earn a living. In addition, access to basic services, like energy, water and sanitation, education, health care and agriculture, is often inadequate.

When poor people have access to financial services and life-enhancing products, they can earn more, build their assets, create jobs and cushion themselves against external shocks. FINCA is helping Zimbabweans improve their lives by supporting access to basic services through FINCA Ventures.