Zimbabwe faces a difficult macro-economic situation which is reflected in several factors: a chronic hyperinflation, leading to increased poverty and significant food insecurity (affecting 20% of the population). The honey sector represents a high-potential avenue for sustainable and inclusive economic development: productive and marketing capacities exist, and intermediary organizations have been established. However, the sector’s limited structuring, along with current production and processing practices, prevent it from realizing its full potential. The potential includes preserving and enhancing natural resources and biodiversity, generating decent income for producers (the majority of whom are women), creating jobs through the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, and capturing lucrative markets regionally and internationally. The national export promotion agency, ZimTrade, supports programs aimed at productive clusters to improve both the quantity and quality of export-ready production, creating economic opportunities for rural populations.

As part of the implementation of the ZimBEE Project – Strenghtening the honey value chain in Zimbabwe, Expertise France is recruiting a consultant specialized in environmental and social assessment to identify the potential environmental and social risks and opportunities related to the implementation of the project. The environmental and social assessment should provide a clear and sector-specific understanding of the main E&S issues linked to the project, along with realistic and actionable recommendations to manage, mitigate or enhance the expected impacts. This includes identifying the key regulatory frameworks, relevant stakeholders, potential risks (related to biodiversity, land use, community health, gender, etc.) and opportunities for positive social or environmental outcomes, especially in relation to honey production, transformation and exportation activities.

The project aims to contribute to the sustainable structuring of the honey value chain to unlock its potential for a) reducing vulnerabilities among rural populations, and b) generating exports of higher value-added products. 

The project is implemented with ZimTrade across 3 apicultural clusters comprising 455 producers and is structured around 3 components: 

• Strengthening the capacities of ZimTrade,
• Establishing a “Center of Excellence” for honey research, studies, and analysis, and
• Supporting the structuring of the apiculture sector, with a strong focus on women, under the supervision of ZimTrade, in order to improve the sector’s overall functionality. 

Expected impacts are :

1)      Improvement in living conditions for populations in the 3 beneficiary clusters: 455 honey producers adopt sustainable and environmentally friendly beekeeping practices through training and the provision of equipment, leading to improved living conditions through increased incomes. Besides, honey production in the 3 clusters grows in quantity and quality, with new markets and derivative products developed, fostering diversification of local production. This diversification enables the creating of decent jobs within the 3 beneficiary clusters.

2)      Enhanced market access at regional and European/international levels: public and private intermediary actors in the honey value chain establish sustainable collaboration models; a national analysis center gains the capability to test and certify the quality of Zimbabwean honey; Zimbabwe progresses toward being included in the list of countries authorized to export to the EU market.

E&S issues

The main environmental and social issues identified so far in the beekeeping sector in Zimbabwe are (to be confirmed by the E&S impact assessment):

• Pressure on natural ecosystems due to non-sustainable harvesting practices (e.g. tree cutting for hive placement or traditional harvesting methods involving fire), leading to deforestation or habitat degradation;
• Potential negative impacts on biodiversity and pollination services, notably through the displacement of native pollinators or disruption of local ecosystems;
• Limited knowledge of the sector’s resilience to climate change, including risks related to droughts, changing flowering patterns, or increased temperatures impacting forage availability and bee health;
• Contamination risks linked to pesticide use in surrounding agricultural zones, affecting bee populations and honey quality;
• Waste and nuisance issues related to honey processing, beeswax extraction or packaging, if not properly managed (water use, organic waste, etc.);
• Risk of unequal benefit sharing within communities, particularly if access to equipment, training, and market opportunities is not equitably distributed;
• Risk of reinforcing social inequalities, especially for vulnerable groups (women, youth, landless people), if their participation in the value chain is not actively promoted or supported

In Zimbabwe, the honey sector is highly dependent on the quality and availability of floral resources and on the organization of smallholder beekeepers, often in remote or marginal areas. The development of the value chain relies on access to appropriate equipment, training on good practices, and stronger links to formal markets. Civil society organizations and local cooperatives can play a crucial role in supporting producers to improve quality, ensure traceability, and promote sustainable practices.

One of the key limitations is the lack of a structured monitoring system for apiary sites, bee health, and honey quality. Furthermore, no official inventory of beekeeping zones or forage areas exists, making it difficult to manage pressure on ecosystems and anticipate the impacts of climate variability. Strengthening data collection and environmental monitoring capacities at the local level will be essential.