Despite economic growth in parts of Africa since the new millennium, the gap between the rich and the poor remains a critical challenge, with nearly two-thirds of the continent’s economically vulnerable population concentrated in ten countries, including Zimbabwe. This fragility has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted health systems, contracted GDPs, and threatened to push millions into extreme poverty. Recognizing that traditional donor programs often cultivate dependency, Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS), in collaboration with the Durban University of Technology (DUT), established the Livelihoods and Export Aided Programme (LEAP). This innovative consortium aimed to complement efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by adopting a whole-of-society approach to foster inclusive growth and poverty eradication across the continent.

Moving away from dependency models, the LEAP initiative employed a market system development approach run on a commercial basis to guarantee a positive return on investment. In Zimbabwe, this strategic intervention targets the Manicaland province, specifically Chimanimani district’s Nyanyadzi and Mutambara areas, leveraging the region’s agricultural potential. Supported by off-taker agreements and letters of guarantee from Zimnat General Insurance, the programme mobilized financial market resources to support smallholder farmers in growing horticultural products for export. By integrating climate-smart agriculture and value-addition technologies, the partnership between AEDS and DUT facilitated the transition of rural households from subsistence to viable commercial enterprises, ensuring they can sustain their daily needs through financial independence.