Our Projects - LEAD Development

Our Development Projects

Empowering communities across Zimbabwe through sustainable development initiatives, improving livelihoods and building resilience for over 15 years.

USADF Grants and Technical Assistance Project

📅 2013 - 2023
💰 US $15.6 Million
🎯 Targeted Beneficiaries: SME's, Women, Youth, Community Organizations
Donor: U.S African Development Foundation

Primary Objective

To enhance the capacity and capabilities of grassroots enterprises through targeted interventions, focusing on improving enterprise management skills, production and distribution capabilities, market access, and marketing capabilities.

Key Support Areas

  • Technical Assistance & Training
  • Mentorship Programs
  • Financial Management
  • Business Planning
  • Operational Efficiency Enhancement

Marketing Capabilities

  • Brand Development
  • Market Research
  • Product Positioning
  • Customer Base Generation
  • Supply Chain Management

Key Achievements

$18.6M Total Funding Provided
100% SME Production Optimization

Feed the Future Crop Development (FTFZ-CD)

📅 2015 - 2020
💰 US $8 Million
👥 58,000 Smallholder Farmers
Donor: USAID

Primary Objective

To alleviate rural poverty and enhance food security among 57,500 smallholder producers, with a particular focus on empowering women (50% of beneficiaries), in Natural Regions III, IV and V.

Methodology

  • Good Agricultural Practices Training
  • Nutrition and Hygiene Education
  • Family Business Development
  • Market Linkages Establishment
  • Good Agronomic Practices
  • Private Sector Partnerships

Impact Areas

  • Agricultural Productivity
  • Crop Production
  • Household Income
  • Food Nutrition & Security
  • Hygiene Practices
  • Market Connections

Outstanding Results

58,000 Households with Improved Food Security
150% Average Crop Yield Increase
34 Private Sector Partnerships
62% Women in Leadership Positions

Feed the Future Mechanization Activity (FTF-MEA)

📅 Jan 2024 - Nov 2024
💰 US $800,000
🚜 Farm Mechanization Focus
Donor: USAID

Primary Objective

To improve smallholder farmers' access to farm power and machinery in Buhera, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mutare, and Chiredzi, Zimbabwe.

Key Activities

  • Establishment of Mechanization Hubs
  • Agricultural Machinery Promotion
  • Service Provider Training
  • Business Development Support
  • BANCABC Partnership for ISALs

Achievements

  • 5 Mechanization Hubs Established
  • 26 Service Providers Equipped
  • 6,700 Farmers Trained
  • Revenue Generation Programs
  • Sustainable Partnerships

Impact Delivered

$64,342 Machinery Investment
$4,508 Revenue Generated
129 Service Hiring Instances

Humanitarian Social Assistance and Resilience Program

📅 Jan 2024 - Nov 2024
💰 US $1.2 Million
🎯 27,000 Beneficiaries
Donor: USAID WFP

Primary Objective

To enhance resilience and alleviate poverty, hunger, and undernutrition in the community through comprehensive support programs.

Support Programs

  • Electronic Voucher Transfers
  • Child & Maternal Nutrition Support
  • Youth Vocational Training
  • Innovative Agricultural Practices
  • Women-Led Farming Initiatives

Infrastructure Development

  • Market Infrastructure Creation
  • Clean Water Access
  • Borehole Drilling & Solarization
  • Vendor Market Development
  • Income Generation Facilities

Community Impact

27,000 Beneficiaries Supported
18,100 Access to Clean Water
800 Women-Led Households Supported
200 Market Vendors Benefited

Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project (ZIRP)

📅 2019 - 2023
💰 US $324,000
🌪️ Cyclone Idai Recovery
International Agencies

Primary Objective

To mitigate the immediate impact on communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai and establish a foundation for long-term recovery and resilience in eastern Zimbabwe.

Recovery Interventions

  • Post-Harvest Management Training
  • Value Addition Techniques
  • Agro-Processing Partnerships
  • Farmer Group Organization
  • Market Access Facilitation

Capacity Building

  • Processing & Storage Training
  • Packaging & Marketing Support
  • Group Procurement Systems
  • Urban Market Linkages
  • Innovation Platforms

Recovery Success

2,060 Farmers Trained
60% Smart Agriculture Adoption
100% Group Organization Success

Resilience ANCHORS Activity

📅 2024 - Jan 2025
💰 US $250,000
🌿 Natural Resource Management
USAID ECODIT LLC

Purpose

To enhance communities' capacity to sustainably protect and manage community-based natural resources and the wildlife economy, recognizing the economic value of nature as an asset, and preparing for future shocks and stresses.

Focus Areas

  • Climate Smart Agriculture
  • Horticulture Production
  • Value Chain Development
  • Non-Timber Forest Products
  • Natural Resource Management

Key Objectives

  • Community Governance Enhancement
  • Sustainable Water Access
  • Private Sector Engagement
  • Conservation Enterprise Support
  • Locally-Led Development

Current Progress

660 Farmer Groups Formed
60% Smart Agriculture Adoption
Export Market Linkages Established

About LEAD Development

LEAD is a Zimbabwean-based Non-Governmental Organization that makes a lasting difference in the lives of underserved groups and communities by helping them raise incomes and access basic socio-economic services.

We focus on three key sectors: Food Security & Livelihoods, Health & Nutrition, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, alongside Enterprise Development and Commercialization.

Our long-term local presence in Zimbabwe has helped us build efficient and effective program management systems that enable us to handle large-scale programs with sustainable impacts that carry on beyond donor funded activities.

15+ Years of Experience
13,500+ Farmers Impacted
$25M+ Total Project Value
100% Commitment to Excellence