Projects in progress: a UK Aid Match team visit to Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone

In Spring 2025, our UK Aid Match teams visited grant holders CBM and Trócaire in Zimbabwe and Restless Development and Street Child in Sierra Leone.

The visits provide valuable opportunities to connect with grant holders and their delivery partners, strengthen our role as critical friend, and deepen our understanding of project progress and challenges. They also allow time for more in-depth exploration of ideas, troubleshooting, and tailored support – whether that’s navigating technical or financial reporting issues, or better understanding the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) approaches to safeguarding, and other important aspects of grant management.

Below is a brief summary of the visits:

In Zimbabwe, CBM is strengthening eye health care services by training health workers to identify people with eye conditions, delivering thousands of sight-restoring cataract surgeries to those who need it, and improving infrastructure across eight district hospitals.

During our visit the team travelled to Gokwe South Hospital and met with key hospital staff and the Provincial Medical Director. They observed surgical processes and aftercare and discussed project implementation and outreach from community health workers with partner staff and clients.

The impact of the project was clear. Many people who had once lost their sight to cataracts shared how their lives had been transformed. With restored vision, they could return to work, care for their children, re-engage in their communities, and feel less of a burden to their families. Strong coordination between trained community health workers and local eye health champions  – trusted community members who raise awareness and encourage uptake – has significantly increased demand for services. In fact, when our team visited a local eye camp, so many people attended that the event was extended an extra day to accommodate them.

Further, a key strength of this project is CBM’s expertise in disability inclusion and its partnership with HelpAge Zimbabwe. This collaboration has been instrumental in reaching older people, often an overlooked group when it comes to healthcare services in Zimbabwe.

As eye health continues to be a low priority in many countries with constrained healthcare budgets, projects like this are often the only way people can access essential services. CBM is making important progress on sustainability, particularly through strengthening local health systems and building long-term capacity, and their advocacy and training of community health workers and local eye health champions is critical to embedding lasting change.

As the project enters its final reporting stage, we look forward to hearing more about the longer-term social, economic and wellbeing impact of improved eye health, and how these lessons can shape future approaches.

Photograph: A patient at a CBM eye camp. Credit: ©CBM UK/Thabani

In Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas, climate change has brought increased droughts and extreme seasonal weather, leaving livelihoods at risk. Trócaire’s three-year project focuses on supporting local agricultural capacity to boost incomes, diversify crops and enhance resilience amongst farmers.  

Although security concerns cut our team’s visit short, preventing a trip to the project site, they held productive discussions with Trócaire and their three local partners Caritas Masvingo, Musasa Project Trust, and Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP), visiting their country office in Harare and chatting remotely. The team heard how the project is working in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX) to bring more sustainable farming to life, such as utilising seed banks and local crops, along with traditional planting and pest control methods. By learning to grow a wider variety of crops and try out alternative composting methods, farmers are better prepared to face unpredictable weather. The impact is already visible, with participants sharing how lead farmers are passing their skills to others and community farms are thriving due to newly developed water infrastructure.

In the project communities, men traditionally control household finances, and women are often left without a say and face heighted risk of Gender-Based-Violence (GBV). By building strong ties with local authorities, including the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) of the Zimbabwean police, the project has set up one-stop centres where women can get information, support, and a safe space to resolve GBV cases. These centres have opened the door to new referral pathways and host sessions on women’s rights, bringing men into the conversation too. Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) groups are also progressing well. Not only are the 31 project-backed groups working closely with local authorities to ensure long-term sustainability, but five more have been launched by participants to start in their own communities, drawing on lessons from their training and empowering farmers to learn from each other.

These approaches on building local ownership are key to ensuring sustainability once the project ends. In addition to collaborations with AGRITEX staff and VFUs, local Environmental Management and Water Point committees have been set up and have started making independent decisions, indicating a level of community confidence. As the project moves forward, we look forward to seeing how these partnerships are translating into long lasting change.

Photograph: A farmer with her crops. Credit: Trócaire

In Bombali and Moyamba Districts, Sierra Leone, Restless Development’s ‘Power Up’ project works to keep girls safe through community-driven protection measures, and improve their life chances through access to formal and informal education and life skills training. In the project communities, harmful practices such as early and forced marriage, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) pose significant challenges, contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancy, and subsequently high numbers of adolescent girls out of school.

During our visit to Bombali District, the team observed lively and engaging life skills and empowerment sessions for out-of-school girls, and listened in on school-based Boys’ Club activities. They also met with mentors and community leaders to hear how the project is progressing, and representatives from Bombali District Council Officials who expressed strong appreciation for their involvement in the project such as engaging in project reviews and selection of communities.  

Photograph: Emma Hayward (Senior Performance and Risk Manager) with Bombali District Officials and members of the Restless Development Sierra Leone Leadership Team in Makeni

With support from the project, communities have established ‘safe spaces’, where adolescent girls can spend time together, share experiences and take part in basic literacy, numeracy and life skills sessions run by mentors. Girls have established their own rules for these spaces, which now include accessibility adaptations for those with disabilities, and crèche facilities to enable young mothers who have dropped out of school to participate.

It was clear that the mentors are highly trusted by the girls and respected by communities and school staff. Restless Development’s mentor programme is a well-established volunteer network in Sierra Leone, and all Restless Development Sierra Leone staff, including the Hub Director, started their careers as Restless volunteers, creating a strong sense of pride in and ownership of the organisation’s programmes. Mentors serve as positive role models for adolescent girls and they told our team they are confident that their experience in the Power Up project would support future ambitions, such as studying social work or becoming teachers.

Photograph: Restless Development Mentor, Zainab, delivering a Life Skills session at the safe space in Mapaki community.

Our team also met a dynamic Link Teacher, who has been trained by the project on safeguarding and inclusive teaching practices. His approach created a safe, trusting classroom environment, an important factor in keeping girls in school. Boys in his class demonstrated strong engagement in the Boys’ Club activity and spoke passionately and in an informed way about the importance of girls’ empowerment and protection, as well as their own responsibilities in supporting this, reflecting the project’s influence on shifting attitudes.

Photograph: Our team with girls and mentors from the Restless Development Safe Space in Mapaki community, Bombali District. Photo credit: Restless Development

Girls, boys, and both male and female caregivers have been meaningfully involved in shaping community action plans and in holding duty bearers accountable for their delivery. Community leaders shared how local-by-laws, developed from these community action plans, have successfully empowered girls and supported their education. Results seen so far include a reduction in teenage pregnancies, several early marriages being stopped, and the banning of discoramas (night time dance parties) during term time to reduce distractions from schooling and keep girls safe from harm.

Our team are looking forward to supporting the project further as it continues in its final stages.

Across four districts in the north of the country, Street Child, through its local partners, are working with 2,000 caregivers to support them to overcome the economic and social barriers that are keeping 4,500 children from attending school.

In many of the project communities, caregivers identify finances as the biggest obstacle to sending their children to school. To address this, the project is supporting 2,000 caregivers to establish small businesses, through distribution of small Family Business Support (FBS) grants and business skills training. The team saw that businesses are up and running, and caregivers reported that their financial ability to keep children in school is improving as a result of business and savings activities.

But money isn’t the only challenge, some children face different barriers, including caregivers not valuing education, children not wanting to attend school, and for those who have a disability, ongoing stigma and challenges with accessibility. These children are also supported by social workers through counselling and family mediation to shift attitudes and encourage school enrolment. Caregivers spoke of understanding the value of education in a new way as a result of these interactions.

During our visit it was encouraging to see that families have formed strong, trusting relationships with Street Child family business officers and social workers, shown through warm receptions, emotional storytelling, and the staff’s deep knowledge of family histories.

Photograph: Aisha’s mother selling mangoes in Makeni, Bombali District

Another aspect of the project is to support the safeguarding and protection of children. Government-mandated Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) have been revitalised through the project by re-establishing inactive ones, electing new members and training them in child protection and safeguarding. These CWCs include diverse community members such as chiefs, teachers, police, faith leaders and students, ensuring children have a wide range of trusted individuals to turn to if they feel unsafe. Efforts to strengthen links between CWCs and government-run Family Support Units (FSUs) and the Police are also taking place, meaning more serious child protection cases can now be referred and managed more effectively, making homes, schools, and communities safer.

Photograph: Our team and Street Child staff in Koinadugu District, meeting the Director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs

CWC members told us they are confident they will continue their work once the project ends after 2025, as they have learned a great deal and are motivated by the positive changes they’ve seen – such as increased peace in their communities, and reduced teenage pregnancies, rape, gender-based violence, and fighting. We look forward to seeing how these community initiatives continue to thrive through the final stages of the project.

Photograph: Emma with Saiyo and her daughter – participants in a previous Street Child UK Aid Match project – explaining how their business has grown over the past three years in Kabala, Koinadugu District

A thank you

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the organisations and individuals involved with these visits. We really appreciated all your time and continued hard work.

For the past three-years SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund), have been supporting young people with disabilities in South Sudan, ensuring they are able to access the education they deserve, challenging negative stereotypes around gender and disability and improving inclusivity within schools and communities.

Accessing inclusive learning

In South Sudan, young people must be able to meet certain personal care requirements before they are allowed to start school – things like using the toilet independently or dressing themselves. For many young people with disabilities, tasks like these can be extremely difficult. This alongside the limited knowledge and tools available around inclusive, accessible learning means they are less likely to attend school.  

But with funds raised through their WEE Box appeal in 2019, SCIAF, alongside their partner Sudan Evangelical Mission (SEM) have been nurturing change in communities. 

Through the project, dedicated support workers have been trained to assist children and their families to identify and meet their basic care needs. These workers provide encouragement and care, and tailor skills plans so they can become more independent and confident.

To ensure schools are accessible the project has repaired classrooms and installed ramps and desks. Children with additional needs have been provided with braille materials and audio tapes so they can join in lessons with their peers, and community members, students and teachers have been trained in sign-language and inclusive education practices.

Several new ‘school clubs’ have been established in six focus schools too. These include debating teams, gardening groups, football clubs and health clubs, creating a fun and social learning environment where children of all ages and abilities can participate together. These clubs not only boost the confidence of young people with disabilities, but reshape how inclusive education is understood and embraced in the wider community.

Photograph: Students at one of the schools

Empowering girls

The project has also been empowering girls through menstrual health education and access to reusable menstrual products. In South Sudan, many girls miss school every month because of their periods. This is due to limited funds to buy menstrual products, and a lack of private and secure facilities at school to manage their periods. These monthly disruptions can have a lasting impact on their education, confidence, and future opportunities.

The menstrual pads provided are made from reusable materials making them a cost-effective and sustainable options for girls and their families. They are made locally so production creates paid work and income for tailoring businesses.

In addition to this practical approach, the project has been challenging social norms and stigma. Workshops run by local partners have raised awareness about periods and reproductive health, encouraging open conversations with students, parents, teachers, and community leaders. These efforts support girls to stay in school, while contributing to long-term behaviour change, where menstruation can be talked about openly between girls and boys, their families and the community.

“The sanitary pads and soap have allowed me to stay in school too. We used to buy menstrual products from the market – but when there was no money, it meant that I missed school due to my periods.” Vaida, 20 years old.

Stories of change

12 year old Malia has been living with hydrocephalus – a build-up of excessive fluid in the brain – since she was a baby, which has made her life extremely difficult. But with support from the project, Malia was able to access emergency medical treatment which has transformed her life. Malia now has access to further medical check-ups to keep an eye on her condition, and she has been encouraged through the project to attend school which in turn is building her self-esteem and confidence. “I am in primary school and – when I’m older – I would like to become a doctor. I feel happy going to school and reading my books because I know I will have a bright future, in spite of my disability.”

Photograph: Malia at home

As Vaida was growing up, walking became difficult. She couldn’t move around freely like other children and needed to be carried which left her feeling like a burden. With support from SEM, Vaida now has a tricycle and an elbow crutch so she can travel longer distances, such as to school, church and the market. SEM staff also visit her regularly to check on her progress and do physiotherapy on her legs. Vaida now has more freedom and doesn’t have to rely on others to get around.

Photograph: Vaida at home

Through this human-centred approach SCIAF’s support is ensuring girls and young people with disabilities have equal opportunities to attend school and thrive towards the futures they deserve. 

Find out more about SCIAF and the project on their website.

In our latest podcast episode, we speak with UK Aid Match grant holder ADD International, and representatives from their implementing partners in Uganda – Buganda Disabled Union (BUDU) and Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA). Their UK Aid Match project is supporting young people with disabilities through kitchen gardening, improving food security for them and their families, and reducing their risk of violence.

ADD International are empowering disability rights organisations and activists in Africa and Asia to drive change for people with disabilities. Over the past two years they have been supporting BUDU and SNUPA to implement this project and advocate for young people with disabilities.

Listen to the podcast episode to learn more about the project, the support BUDU and SNUPA have received to drive change for people with disabilities and what’s next for ADD International in their mission to strengthen disability justice activists and organisations.

Extracts from podcast

“Persons with disabilities have told us directly – they don’t want to just be consulted; they want to take the lead and use their lived experience for more impactful work. We have seen first-hand that this is not only a fairer approach – it’s more effective.” Scovia Mwerya, Uganda Team Lead ADD Interational

“Through the UK Aid Match project, SNUPA works to challenge norms about what young women with disabilities can do. We show positive role models in kitchen gardening, campaigns and media, and support peer leaders to directly engage with families, VSLAs and government to dispel myths and show what is possible when young people with disabilities lead their own initiatives.” Peter Ogik, SNUPA.