[{"bbox": [97, 165, 1164, 298], "category": "Text", "text": "Due to a history of western restrictive measures and a longstanding partnership with China, the political dialogue between the European Union and the Zimbabwean government has been complicated, and sector policy dialogues have been limited until 2022. The National Development Strategy (NDS-1 2021-2025) serves as a policy document for dialogue, and while it comprehensively addresses the challenges, it fails to address constraints in terms of accessing financing and investments."}, {"bbox": [97, 310, 1164, 388], "category": "Text", "text": "It is highly relevant to support increased dialogues with the Zimbabwean government and to communicate the global agenda and values of the European Union, jointly with its Member States, and to fight against recurrent disinformation."}, {"bbox": [97, 402, 1164, 694], "category": "Text", "text": "A high-level Dialogue on Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution was launched by President Mnangagwa in 2022. The EU co-chairs the governance stakeholders group, while the government is proposing three reform matrices to accelerate the process, including the use of international governance indexes, land compensation consolidation, the need for an IMF-Staff-monitored programme (SMP), and credible elections. The launch of this process has been positively received by stakeholders and could play an important part in the Zimbabwe's re-engagement agenda. Since the elections were deemed a significant milestone in the process, the entire process was paused during the electoral period. Both the Government, as well as the AfDB and the facilitator would have to consult with the International Community and decide whether and how to resume it. This process is the only multilateral and multi stakeholder high-level platform to discuss the most relevant political, economic and social issues the country is facing. If it continues, the EU will need to continue playing an active role and also as a way of ensuring the inclusivity of the process through meaningfully involving civil society and preventing further democratic regression in Zimbabwe."}, {"bbox": [97, 706, 1164, 917], "category": "Text", "text": "One of the values that the EU has in common with Zimbabwe is gender equality, which provides an entry point for dialogue and reengagement. The Zimbabwean constitution recognises gender equality in all spheres of life and prohibits discrimination on various grounds, including gender and sex. The policy and legal framework is strong with a significant number of laws and policies that promote gender equality and women's empowerment. Despite all legal instruments to fight against gender inequalities, women face hindrances in the exercise of their rights due to negative patriarchal traditions and harmful cultural and religious beliefs and practices. One of the biggest challenges that Zimbabwe faces is that of implementing the positive policy and legislative provisions in order to transform women's lived realities."}, {"bbox": [97, 930, 1025, 958], "category": "Text", "text": "These issues align with the priority areas of the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP), which are:"}, {"bbox": [97, 970, 498, 996], "category": "List-item", "text": "1. Good Governance and Citizens' Rights,"}, {"bbox": [97, 998, 412, 1022], "category": "List-item", "text": "2. Green Economic Growth, and"}, {"bbox": [97, 1024, 534, 1050], "category": "List-item", "text": "3. Social Recovery and Human Development."}, {"bbox": [97, 1088, 1164, 1169], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU Delegation, in coordination with the EU Member States, has signed the Country Level Implementation (CLIP) GAP III whose aim is to strengthen gender equality and women's empowerment in the social, economic and political spheres."}, {"bbox": [97, 1181, 1164, 1286], "category": "Text", "text": "Two Team Europe initiatives have been identified as drivers of re-engagement with Zimbabwe: one on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, and another on Greener & Climate-Smart Agriculture. These two areas are prioritized by NDS1, and would lead to real development opportunities based on a shared agenda of values and interests."}, {"bbox": [97, 1300, 1164, 1380], "category": "Text", "text": "While communication on the Global Gateway Strategy is being developed, cultural exchanges and well-targeted public diplomacy will also need to contribute further to mutual enrichment and the promotion of European values as factors of development."}, {"bbox": [97, 1392, 1164, 1551], "category": "Text", "text": "The Cooperation Facility (CF), owing to its broad coverage and potential areas of engagement, can provide an impactful EU contribution to engagement with Zimbabwe, in line with the EU strategic interests and the NDS1. The Facility can lay the ground for future actions including the support of the mid-term review of the MIP or the support to the design of Zimbabwe's new NDS, and to ensure that cross-cutting priorities are effectively mainstreamed in the overall EU interventions. The CF will enable the Delegation to reinforce public and economic diplomacy work, increasing the visibility of the EU and Member States in Zimbabwe."}, {"bbox": [1027, 1653, 1143, 1680], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 15"}]