Hub Zimbabwe: Capacity building and gender sensitive extension training

The Zimbabwe Hub led by Chinhoyi University of Technology, in collaboration with University of Namibia, University of Zambia, Manicaland State University and partners in Tanzania, seeks to build capacity among faculty and students in science translation and gender sensitive extension training. Its focus is on strengthening the link between education and societal needs, delivering contextually relevant learning, and empowering learners to investigate and solve real-world challenges. The hub includes two change projects located in Zimbabwe and Tanzania respecitvely, that illustrates practical models of science translation and their impacts. The change projects focus on:

  • Capacity building in edible insect rearing, value-added processing, and entrepreneurial development (Zimbabwe)
  • Gender-sensitive village extension training in Tanzania (GenSens)
Capacity building in edible insect rearing, value-added processing, and entrepreneurial development (Zimbabwe)

The edible insects project

This project empowers marginalised communities in Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe by strengthening sustainable food systems through training in edible insect farming, value-added processing, and entrepreneurship. Building on the region’s cultural use of edible insects and earlier AgriFoSe2030 successes in Zimbabwe, it engage stakeholders, map impact pathways, and drive inclusive planning and innovation. Women and youth will receive mentorship in processing, business development, marketing, and sustainable resource management to establish viable enterprises, especially in urban and tourism markets. By project end, cross-country knowledge exchange will be strengthened, climate-smart practices promoted, and indigenous food resources better preserved and commercialised—ultimately reducing poverty and building resilient, heritage-based food enterprises across Southern Africa.
INTERVIEW

Robert Musundire, Zimbabwe

Edible insects for improved food security

CHANGE STORY

Edible insects for food security

Improving the value chain for edible insects in Zimbabwe through increased production and trade

CHANGE STORY

Communication for resilient food systems

Communication drives change in the edible insect sector

Gender-sensitive village extension training in Tanzania
Farmers learning more about gender perspective

GenSens

Vocational college tutors at MATIs, agricultural extension students, and key representatives from SUA, the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, and Zimbabwean partners will gain a stronger understanding of gender issues relevant to agricultural development and receive more gender-sensitive extension training. This improved capacity will enable future extension workers to tailor advice and services to women farmers’ needs, benefiting the many female smallholders who produce much of Tanzania’s food. The project trains tutors to mainstream gender perspectives across curricula, equipping them to prepare students to bridge gendered skill and power gaps without increasing women’s labour burdens. Strengthening gender-responsive advisory services will boost the adoption of appropriate agricultural interventions, improving agricultural development, food security, and incomes.
CHANGE STORY

Small-scale interventions ignite powerful shifts for Gender Transformation in Tanzania

I will champion the creation of awareness in my community about the importance of gender equality in society. Both men and women can benefit from eliminating gender discrimination.

Woman talking holding a microphone
INTERVIEW

Strengthening gender-responsive agricultural extension training in Tanzania

Sustainable agricultural development requires extension services that address gender roles and power dynamics. The GenSens strengthens Tanzania’s agricultural training system to better equip future extension agents to support smallholder farmers. Meet PI Merezia Wilson who tells us more.

Woman presenting
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

Supporting access of agricultural extension services

Supporting access and implementation of agricultural extension services for female smallholder farmers - A systematic review By: Y Nyberg, H Mackay, M Wilson, M Samkunde & J Wetterlind