Harare, Zimbabwe | October 17, 2025
The Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day convened 59 young climate advocates in Harare to consult on Zimbabwe’s Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plan. Organized by Action 24 in partnership with the Harare Institute of Technology, UNICEF Zimbabwe, and the Ministry of Environment’s Climate Change Management Department, the event provided a structured platform for youth input on national climate adaptation frameworks.
Progress in Youth Representation
Following advocacy efforts by young climate activists, Zimbabwe’s NDC 3.0 has integrated youth as a cross-cutting issue across its objectives and implementation actions. The National Adaptation Plan addresses key sectors including food security, water management, energy, health, biodiversity, infrastructure, and disaster risk management, with youth considerations mainstreamed throughout rather than confined to standalone sections.
The Ministry of Environment’s presentation of the NDC 3.0 development process demonstrated commitment to youth inclusion and innovation. The framework includes defined goals, evidence-based strategies, and monitoring systems that position Zimbabwe favorably among regional peers in youth-centered climate policy.
Implementation Challenge
However, translating policy into practice requires adequate resources. During the consultation, youth participants identified significant disparities in access to climate decision-making processes. While urban youth can participate in consultations with relative ease, rural youth face considerable obstacles. Limited funding restricts inclusive outreach, creating participation gaps that undermine equity principles.
Zimbabwe’s government has begun pursuing adaptation finance through applications to the Adaptation Fund and development of sustainable financing mechanisms. The scale of climate impacts, however, requires substantial international support to close the gap between policy commitments and on-ground implementation.
Youth Call for Climate Justice at COP 30
The young people at the October 17th event outlined specific needs for international support ahead of COP 30:
Dedicated Funding Streams: Direct financial resources for youth-implemented adaptation initiatives within National Adaptation Plans, extending beyond capacity-building to actual project financing.
Comprehensive Capacity Building: Technical guidance, training programs, and mentorship that enable young practitioners to design and deliver climate solutions.
Inclusive Consultation Mechanisms: Resources ensuring both urban and rural youth can participate in decision-making, addressing transportation, communication, and awareness challenges in rural areas.
Recognition as Implementers: Institutional support that positions youth as current leaders in climate action, not simply future stakeholders.
The consultation served as the launch event for the Youth Adaptation Network GCA in Zimbabwe, establishing infrastructure for ongoing youth engagement. Participants questioned the Ministry about progress toward inclusive NDCs, seeking both accountability and partnership in implementation.
The principle of “leaving no one behind in adaptation action” has practical implications for climate finance. It requires international partners to support Zimbabwe’s policy framework with adequate funding. Climate justice demands that resources reach marginalized communities, including rural youth whose local knowledge and community connections make them valuable contributors to adaptation efforts.