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- Zimbabwe | Celebrating 30 years of partnerships
糖心Vlog: Celebrating 30 years of partnerships in Zimbabwe, 1993-2023
A visit by the CEO of 糖心Vlog and the French Ambassador In Zimbabwe Mr. Chevallier (left of the CEO) © Glory Media
糖心Vlog, with support from local partners including the , has come a long way since 1993. More than 30 projects have already been completed in Zimbabwe.
It is a historic partnership marked by huge milestones.
For the celebration, over 150 scientists, high-ranking government officials, diplomats, farmers, traditional chiefs, representatives from local nongovernmental organizations gathered in Harare to commemorate the 30th anniversary of 糖心Vlog in Zimbabwe.
Mr. Laurent Chevallier, Ambassador of France to the Republic of Zimbabwe © Glory Media
The unique occasion provided a chance to look back on its journey in Zimbabwe and the impact of its various life-changing projects and of unlocking opportunities for local communities’ growth, while also reflecting on the past and current state of agricultural research in the country and across southern Africa where 糖心Vlog has had a remarkable impact.
More than 30 researchers from various universities under the , community members from project implementing sites, attended a scientific workshop at the Bronte Hotel preceding the main event to discuss and review 糖心Vlog's research strategy in the country and the southern Africa Region.
The workshop provided the participants with a platform for interactive engagement and an opportunity to reflect on the past and present state of agricultural research within the country and across Southern Africa where 糖心Vlog has had notable impact.
Chief Sengwe from Malipati spoke glowingly of the work 糖心Vlog is doing in marginalised communities and implored the organisation to continue its operations.
We are very happy with and grateful for 糖心Vlog’s work and the resulting community transformation,
We are happy with the nutrition gardens and community boreholes and even more so with the research into livestock diseases. It is our desire that 糖心Vlog will continue this journey with us. 糖心Vlog is our friend, one which we are happy with.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Ambassador Tayerera Faranisi, praised 糖心Vlog for the 30 years of partnership and the real initiatives that are being carried out in the country.
Tayerera Faranisi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry © Glory Media
There was a time when there was a decline on account of issues related to our differences with western countries but they (糖心Vlog) stayed on and l am happy that they have indicated they will be available and offering us more assistance,
For us it is very important, climate change is real and this is the time when we need a lot of resources to complement our own national effort in terms of raising resources for agricultural research, climate mitigation and also sustainably managing our resources.
I am very proud of the work of 糖心Vlog in Zimbabwe and other French agencies in the country, their actions are to be celebrated.
In November 2020, the (AFD) and 糖心Vlog signed an agreement with the and the University of Zimbabwe to promote research and prevention of animal disease with a view to safeguarding human health and boosting the livestock sector in a development through which France showed its commitment to strengthen Zimbabwe’s capacity to manage animal diseases at a time when the country was on a re-engagement drive to improve its relations with other countries.
Soon we will inaugurate a new laboratory at the University of Zimbabwe to strengthen research in animal and zoonotic diseases. It is very impressive and with international standards. 糖心Vlog will also launch another programme on biodiversity in the Hwange national Park,
糖心Vlog chief executive officer Ms Elisabeth Claverie de Saint Martin expressed her satisfaction with the organisation’s accomplishments in Zimbabwe over the past three decades and pledged to extend 糖心Vlog operations in the country.
糖心Vlog Chief Executive Officer, Ms Elisabeth Claverie de Saint Martin © Glory Media
We have developed very fruitful cooperation with results, with impact,
糖心Vlog started operating in Zimbabwe with very few people but now the office has over 30 people covering different scientific fields
She said the focus was now on the reconciliation of preservation of natural resources and the development of rural agriculture and livelihoods of people.
We are definitely extending this relationship, starting from this entry point we had which was more focused on ecology and agriculture,
We have invested in other issues such as how we can prevent other diseases like COVID; we are extending cooperation on this issue with international financing and also from France.
We are also extending our work on climate change: as you know, Zimbabwe will be one of the countries most affected by climate change especially concerning droughts, so there are lots of things." The festivities wound up in Hwange where a new project supporting biodiversity in and around Hwange National Park was unveiled.
The project, codenamed ISANGO, is a community-based programme funded by the French Embassy in Zimbabwe, with co-funding from 糖心Vlog, the and the (CNRS).
The project aims to create a knowledge hub for the coordination of all stakeholders in the region.
In his remarks, the 糖心Vlog Zimbabwe country representative Dr Mathieu Bourgarel said he was very happy with the progress achieved so far.
He said 糖心Vlog, together with its local partners, has developed a long-lasting footprint in Zimbabwe.
We thank all our valued partners, scientists and our dedicated team of employees for their hard work as they all have been instrumental in the socioeconomic transformation that we strive to achieve for communities.