FACT Zimbabwe Board Chairperson Washington Kuwana
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
FACT Zimbabwe has emerged stronger despite a difficult operating environment in 2025, sustaining life-changing interventions across the country while laying the foundation for long-term growth and sustainability.
The organisation’s 2025 Annual Report shows that despite funding shocks, regulatory uncertainty, climate-related challenges and humanitarian pressures, FACT Zimbabwe remained resilient, continuing to deliver community-driven programmes in all 10 provinces.
Board Chairperson Washington Kuwana said the organisation demonstrated resilience and adaptability at a time when many development partners were grappling with shrinking resources.
“FACT Zimbabwe’s 2025 Annual Report highlights a year defined by both significant challenges and meaningful transformation. Despite these difficulties, FACT Zimbabwe demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a strong commitment to its mission,” said Kuwana.
He noted that the abrupt termination of key USAID-funded programmes had significant implications on service delivery systems and community structures, but the organisation managed to maintain impactful interventions across the country.
“Despite these setbacks, the organisation sustained impactful, community-led interventions across all ten provinces, reaffirming its national reach and operational resilience,” he said.
Kuwana added that initiatives such as Community-Led Monitoring, strengthened accountability within the health system, while livelihoods and resilience programmes improved household food security and enhanced the capacity of vulnerable communities to withstand economic and environmental shocks.
He also revealed that strengthening governance remained a priority, with the organisation attaining a Tier 3 Data Controller Licence in 2025, a milestone that reflects its commitment to transparency, accountability and data protection.
Kuwana said the organisation also approved its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, positioning FACT Zimbabwe as a hybrid organisation that balances direct service delivery with systems strengthening, policy influence and sustainable financing.
“Looking ahead, the Board remains committed to strong governance and strategic leadership, confident that FACT Zimbabwe is well positioned to deepen its impact and contribute to resilient, healthy, and empowered communities nationwide,” Kuwana said.
Executive Director Gertrude Shumba
Executive Director Gertrude Shumba shared similar sentiments saying 2025 was a year of resilience, renewal and transformation, with communities increasingly taking ownership of their health, livelihoods and wellbeing.
“Across all programmes, we witnessed communities take greater ownership of their health, livelihoods, and wellbeing, demonstrating the power of locally driven solutions even in the face of socio-economic challenges, climate shocks, and persistent inequalities,” said Shumba.
She said the Global Fund-supported Community-Led Monitoring initiative strengthened health accountability by identifying service delivery gaps and facilitating practical solutions, including disability-friendly ramps, mothers’ waiting shelters, improved medicine coordination and stronger engagement between communities and health facilities.
Shumba added that FACT Zimbabwe’s New Start Centres in Chipinge and Mutare maintained a strong HIV response, recording a 98 percent viral load suppression rate while ensuring high treatment continuity and preparing for the introduction of new HIV prevention options.
She said the Souter Project also strengthened social cohesion and gender justice through initiatives such as Transforming Masculinities, conflict dialogue sessions and the Journey to Healing model, enabling survivors of gender-based violence to regain dignity while encouraging positive behaviour change among men.
In the livelihoods sector, Shumba said programmes implemented in Buhera, Chimanimani and Nyanga improved household incomes and food security through climate-smart agriculture, irrigation schemes and Self-Help Groups that promoted women’s leadership, savings and economic resilience.
She said youth-led horticulture projects supported by solar-powered irrigation also demonstrated innovation while improving nutrition and income generation.
“Across all interventions, one message is clear: communities are not passive recipients, they are active drivers of change,” said Shumba.
She expressed gratitude to donors, Government ministries, community structures, faith partners and the FACT Zimbabwe team for supporting the organisation’s work despite a challenging year.
“As we look to 2026, we remain focused on deepening community leadership, expanding innovative approaches, and ensuring that every individual, regardless of gender, age, or circumstance, can live with dignity, health, and hope,” she added.
