The National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2: 2026–2030) represents Zimbabwe’s pivotal opportunity to transition from volatile, extractive, and exclusionary growth pathways toward an inclusive, resilient, and transformative development model aligned with Vision 2030, the SDGs, AU Agenda 2063, and SADC RISDP. Building on the foundations of NDS1 while addressing its shortcomings, NDS2 must confront persistent macroeconomic fragility marked by high debt, inflation volatility, and limited fiscal space; entrenched poverty, inequality, and youth unemployment; weak governance and accountability; and heightened climate vulnerability. Citizens’ voices, as captured through consultations, stress a few non-negotiables that demand prioritization, macroeconomic stability with single-digit inflation and sustainable debt, broad-based and equitable economic transformation anchored in gender justice, job creation, and youth empowerment, investment in infrastructure and climate-smart food systems, and robust social protection systems that leave no one behind. Critical to delivery is institutional reform, strengthening governance, transparency, anti-corruption measures, and devolved resource allocation to provinces, combined with strategic financing innovations such as blended finance, SDG bonds, and gender-lens procurement. Streamlined policy actions cluster around five thematic priorities: (i) stabilizing the economy and restoring fiscal credibility; (ii) investing in human capital, health, and education to drive a knowledge-based economy; (iii) promoting equity, gender equality, and youth empowerment as engines of productivity and governance renewal; (iv) building climate resilience and climate-smart infrastructure to safeguard livelihoods; and (v) entrenching strong governance, accountability, and inclusive citizen participation through co-creation and civic engagement. Download the file to read more
National-Development-Strategy-2-NDS2-Policy-Paper.pdf