AYICC Zimbabwe Overview
African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Zimbabwe (AYICC) is a platform for African youths led by youths in influencing climate action through areas such as engaging young people and creating resilient communities through climate change awareness programs. AYICC is a group of young volunteers who are dedicated and passionate about the environment. Over the years, it has been working with the governments on the implementation of national and international commitments on climate change mitigation and adaptation so as to increase sustainability, promote energy and water efficiency.
Our Goal
To develop capacity and strong partnerships among youths in Africa so that they are better equipped to address climate change in their countries for the benefit of the present and future generations.
Our Vision
Empower young people to influence decisions on Environment and Climate Initiatives, especially through innovation and nature-based solutions towards climate resilience.
Our Mission
To increase climate resilience in Zimbabwe and Africa through youth-led climate advocacy and projects.
- To promote sustainable dialogue among the youth, governments, CSOs, development partners and UN agencies with regard to climate change in Africa.
- To build solidarity among young people in the African Countries for the purpose of enhancing their role in the climate change negotiations and implementation processes.
- To support the capacity building, development and integration of youths in all aspects of climate change in their region.
- To promote youth agenda on climate change, climate justice and meaningful participation at community, national and international levels.
- To disseminate information in order to raise climate awareness as well as widen AYICC membership base.
- To facilitate participatory action research on the impact of climate change on African youths and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
History
Against the background of promoting vigorous climate change mitigation and adaptation through education which is an essential element in building climate change resilience Thursday Climate Talk #TCT was launched in June 2019. This program runs on a weekly basis where experts, organizations among other stakeholders are hosted as guests. The program has a broader scope hosting a plethora of topics ranging from gender and climate, entrepreneurial adventures, Climate Smart Agriculture amongst other issues. The main goal behind this is to help young people understand and address the impacts of climate change, encourage changes in their attitude and behavior whilst helping them adapt to climate change-related trends.
Staff
Jean-Betrand Mhandu - National Coordinator
0736622454
Lovemore Dhobha - Director Climate Change Management Department
Tashinga Chikomba - Environmental Scientist
Panashe Sakupwanya - Projects Manager
Our Key Thematic Areas
1. Climate change mitigation
These are efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases.The world is moving towards a low- carbon society and certain strategies can be adopted to achieve this includes growing trees, reducing our carbon footprint by the practise of using renewable and clean energy e.g. cycling instead of driving or cook stove design- strategies that improve the energy efficiency of current equipment.
2. Climate Change Adaptation
Climate change adaptation involves taking practical actions to manage risks from climate impacts, protecting communities and strengthening their resilience. It is a shared responsibility: governments, businesses, households, youth and women.
3. Gender & Climate Change
Climate change has a greater impact on those sections of the population that are most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods and have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards. Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations of poverty, and the majority of the world’s poor are women. Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes and labor markets compound inequalities and often prevent women from fully contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making and implementation. AYICC acknowledges that women’s participation in climate issues will result in greater responsiveness to citizen’s needs and improved outcomes of climate related projects and policies.
4. Climate Education
Education is an essential element of the global response to climate change. AYICC Zimbabwe always conducts Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environmental, Wetlands and Waste Management Workshops and education sessions in schools, universities and communities.
5. Climate Change Policy/Advocacy
Since its inception, AYICC Zimbabwe has been actively participating in the development and implementation of the several policies and strategies and plans at national level. These include: Energy Policy, Climate Change Policy and Strategy, IntendedNationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plan, National Positions on Climate Change and Climate Smart Agriculture Manual.
6. Climate Smart Agriculture
Climate Change is negatively impacting affecting the agricultural sector with negative impacts and fish farming is one of the methods to adapt to the effects. We have and are still conducting workshops and awareness programs on Climate Smart Agriculture practices encouraging communities to engage more in climate smart practices and improve their yields sustainable.
7. Bio - diversity and Climate Change
AYICC-Zim is aware of the importance of wetlands in absorbing carbon dioxide, to ensure sustainable conservation of wetlands AYICC- Zim is part of the National Wetlands Committee. AYICC Zimbabwe has led and coordinated eight (8) Chivero Clean-ups in partnership with Zimbabwe parks and wildlife, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Kuimba Shiri, NGO’s, Lake Chivero Users Association and Volunteers, with more than 1 700 participants removing more than 70 tons of waste.