World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Ruth is proud of the new pressure tank she helped build as part of WFP’s Food for Assets programme. Members of her community had previously tried building a tank (right) but leaks appeared and it became unusable. During her time on the project, Ruth was provided with monthly food rations for herself and her family.

Before building the irrigation system, members of this community had struggled to feed their families. Now, with a reliable water source, each member harvests at least three crops annually and the drought no longer affects them.

Community members discuss their plans to build a trading shed while participating in WFP’s Food for Assets programme. The trading shed will include a cold room, an office to store their records, a toilet block and a car park for customers.

WFP is working with the International Organisation for Migration and German Agro Action to support displaced people now living in Chipinge district. Two hundred and fifty eight households were involved in the construction of this weir, and all received monthly family food rations as an incentive to complete the task.

After completing the weir in October 2011, members of the Masocha Chisangaurwe Irrigation Scheme began building a 1,200 metre main canal for water to travel from the weir to service their nearby plots.

Community members are currently helping to build smaller canals stemming from the main canal and running into their fields. To date, they have completed over 2,500 metres of canal work.

Of the 258 households helping to build this irrigation system, 129 are officially registered as being displaced, having been relocated in 2010 from Gwenzi. This project has helped them to become integrated into the local community.

Women mix mortar and concrete to plaster the tributary canals.