In December 2021, RWI entered into an agreement with the European Commission (EU) for a cooperation programme titled “Support to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission” (the Action). Initially set for a period of 36 months, the programme was extended to 40 months in September 2024.
Overall Objective
The primary goal of the Action is to contribute to the increased enjoyment of constitutional rights in Zimbabwe. This is achieved through strengthening the capacity of the Zimbabwean Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) to effectively carry out its mandate to promote, protect, and fulfill human rights in Zimbabwe while at the same time enhancing the visibility of the ZHRC among its stakeholders.
Key Areas of Focus
The Action focuses on three key areas of intervention:
- Promoting Access to National Documentation: Enhancing citizens' ability to access vital legal and identity documentation, thereby empowering them to exercise their rights fully.
- Enhancing a Human Rights-Based Approach to the Electoral Process: Supporting the ZHRC in promoting and safeguarding human rights and other administrative justice violations throughout Zimbabwe's electoral cycle.
- Strengthening the ZHRC’s Public Protector Mandate: Strengthening the ZHRC's mandate in overseeing the redress of cases of maladministration and promoting good governance practices in the conduct of state affairs.
Target Groups and Stakeholders
The main stakeholders for the Action include government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as independent commissions, traditional leadership institutions, and local communities. These groups are essential to the Action’s efforts to improve human rights protection and governance systems in Zimbabwe.
Building on Previous Success
This current EC-funded Action builds on the success of previous institutional support to the ZHRC. Earlier strategic support was provided to ZHRC through cooperation with GIZ, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and UNDP. These efforts have focused on building and strengthening the ZHRC's capacity to effectively discharge its mandate, ensuring that the Commission is better equipped to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights across Zimbabwe. The Action further complements the capacity development support to ZHRC via our ongoing Sida-funded Zimbabwe Human Rights Capacity Development Programme.
Key priorities of the EC Funded Action: Strengthening Visibility, Trust and Support
There are two strategic priority areas of the RWI-EC cooperation support to the ZHRC.
- The first priority is to support the ZHRC in strengthening its visibility and trust among key stakeholders in Zimbabwe.
- The second priority is to support and strengthen the ZHRC to carry out its mandate and functions in the implementation of specific activities in relation to identified targeted mandate areas.
Key outcomes
The successful implementation of the Action in pursuit of these two strategic priorities will, overall, contribute towards the following key outcomes:
- Increased access to national documentation among communities experiencing challenges, through the implementation by relevant stakeholders of ZHRC National Inquiry recommendations;
- Government agencies increasingly comply with human rights obligations related to the electoral process, including through improved redress mechanisms for electoral-related human rights and administrative justice violations; and
- Strengthening the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission as a Public Protector.
Action Implementation Approach
To achieve its goals and objectives, the Action employs a two-pronged approach to implementing planned activities across the three closely related Outcome areas.
The first component of the Action focuses on activities led by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI). These activities are primarily geared towards providing continued support for the institutional capacity strengthening of the ZHRC. The objective is to enhance the ZHRC’s ability to effectively engage with key stakeholders in the protection and promotion of human rights.
The second component of the Action involves activities led by the ZHRC itself. These are mainly operational and field-based activities, including direct engagements with key stakeholders in the human rights landscape.
To achieve the desired results across the Outcome areas, the Action includes several activities as exemplified below, but not limited to:
- Development and revision of operational and strategic frameworks and tools that strengthen knowledge management and serve as critical resources to guide the work of the ZHRC, such as the ZHRC Manual on Administrative Justice, the Case Management System, and the revised ZHRC Elections Strategy;
- Development of Informational Educational and Communication materials that are distributed to key stakeholders during outreaches and awareness raising campaigns, as well as during stakeholder meetings and trainings;
- Awareness raising campaigns and outreaches to communities across Zimbabwe on the three Action outcome areas;
- Trainings targeting duty bearers, such as the Civil Registry Department, the Department of Social Development, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, traditional leaders, and school heads;
- Stakeholder engagements on the implementation of ZHRC’s National Inquiry Recommendations;
- Study Visits to institutions with an administrative justice mandate within the region for benchmarking purposes;
- Development of policy paper with recommendations towards ratification by Zimbabwe of the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness to enhance the Government’s commitment towards ending the challenges of statelessness.
Key Successes of the Action to Date
The implementation of the Action has yielded several notable positive outcomes, contributing significantly to the ZHRC’s ability to effectively carry out its mandate. Key successes include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Enhanced Strategic Resources: A substantial increase in the development of policies, tools, and strategies that serve as critical resources for guiding the ZHRC's operations. Noteworthy examples include the adoption of the ZHRC Manual on Administrative Justice and the revised ZHRC Elections Strategy, both of which provide foundational frameworks for the Commission’s work.
"The EU's support through RWI has helped the ZHRC develop essential tools for knowledge management, which will serve as repositories of information and reference points for the ZHRC, including for any new staff appointed in the future.” - Erick Mukutiri, ZHRC Deputy Executive Secretary, Programmes.
- Improved Outreaches and Information Dissemination: The availability of high-quality Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials has significantly strengthened the ZHRC’s outreach activities. These materials play a pivotal role in raising public awareness and disseminating vital human rights and administrative justice information to diverse audiences across the country.
- Increased Mobility in Remote Areas: The donation of a utility vehicle has markedly improved the ZHRC’s ability to reach remote and marginalised communities across Zimbabwe’s various provinces. This enhanced mobility has facilitated more comprehensive monitoring and outreach, ensuring that human rights services and justice are accessible to underserved populations.
- Provision of Tools to Enhance Efficiency: The donation of laptops under the Action has equipped ZHRC staff with the necessary tools to enhance their operational efficiency. These resources enable staff members to carry out their responsibilities more effectively, improving the overall productivity and responsiveness of the Commission.
- Expedited Resolution of Complaints and other Decision-Making Processes: The Action has facilitated a more rapid and efficient process for addressing complaints. Regular meetings of the Commission are now supported by the availability of resources, enabling timely policy decisions and the swift resolution of grievances brought before the ZHRC.
Increased visibility and Stakeholder Engagement: The ZHRC has experienced enhanced visibility and recognition of its services, due in large part to increased interaction and collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Civil Registry Department and the Department of Social Development. This strengthened engagement has further solidified the Commission’s role as a trusted institution for promoting and protecting human rights in Zimbabwe.
These achievements underscore the significant impact of the Action in strengthening the ZHRC’s capacity and effectiveness in fulfilling its mandate.
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