CaLP Case Study: Support to Economic Recovery of Urban Households in Karoi town, Zimbabwe

In 2008, living standards in Zimbabwe reached
humanitarian crisis proportions. Political instability,
land problems and drought contributed to a sharp
decline in economic activity, particularly affecting
agricultural production and exports. The situation
was worsened by the turmoil following disputed
presidential and parliamentary elections in March. In
July, hyperinflation was such that Zimbabwean 100
billion dollar bills had to be issued.
In 2008-2009, the country was struck by a devastating
cholera outbreak. With insufficient access to safe
water and poor sanitary conditions, the disease
spread, infecting 98,440 people and killing over 4,000.
With a health system eroded by the impact of the
economic crisis and the HIV/AIDS epidemic (with a
prevalence rate of around 16% of the adult population
at that time), Zimbabwe had no other alternative than
to declare a national emergency. At that point, almost
every household in the country had a family member ill
and requiring special care and nutrition.