Vision
A prosperous, self-reliant and gender equitable society with thriving and sustainable livelihoods.
Mission
SHDF mission is ‘to ignite the potential of marginalized women and youths through capacity strengthening, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and linkages to claim their rights and wellbeing’.
Core Values
Sisterhood & Solidarity
Equality & Non-discrimination
Sustainability
Integrity
Collaboration
WHO WE ARE
The Self Help Development Foundation (SHDF), a registered PVO 71/2016, has pioneered the grassroots movement of women’s savings clubs and self-help groups (SHGs) throughout Zimbabwe with a direct focus on building women’s capacities. It is a women and youth oriented organization which is empowering women to improve their lives through tailor made self-help projects in their respective communities. The organization works to transform women and youth especially in rural communities to pursue sustainable development. SHDF’s core activities involve mobilizing communities into women’s savings clubs to save money for economic self-reliance of households and promoting women’s rights as a tool for poverty alleviation. SHDF also has a strong focus on preventing gender based violence through its economic empowerment and information dissemination programs. Savings club members are also equipped in various technical skills, business management, project and savings management, farming as a business, human rights, lobbying and advocacy, gender and climate justice, sexual reproductive health rights and leadership among others. Its mission is driven by the capacity and expertise of over 60 years in community work focusing on business development services, technical skills and development of women’s leadership. Through this work, SHDF has become a formidable capacity building institute. The strength of SHDF is that it is a grassroots membership driven organization with over 25,000 members nationally where 97% are women and 80% of the membership is based in the rural areas. In its work, SHDF has mobilized over 25 564 members across the country to date as members. SHDF has a footprint in 44 districts and is head quartered in Hatfield, Harare and this is where its operations are coordinated. The organization is governed by an experienced Board.
SHDF works hands on for the development of women and communities through the promotion of self-reliance. 80% of members are in the rural areas, with 20% in the urban areas. Of the 25 000 club members, 97% are female.
Currently, SHDF focus is on strengthening sustainable livelihoods, community resilience, and inclusive economic participation among vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe. Her work prioritises practical, community-led solutions that enhance self-reliance and log-term development.
SHDF is present in all the ten Provinces of Zimbabwe, with footprints the following districts: Chimanimani, Mutare, Buhera, Mutasa, Makoni, Nyanga, Wedza, Mutoko, Murewa, Goromonzi, Manyame/Seke, Guruve, Maowe, Bindura, Hurungwe, Zhombe, Shurugwi, Mvuma, Gokwe North, Chivi, Masvingo, Mwenezi, Gweru, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Nkayi, Umzingwane, Gwanda, Bulilima, Harare and Bulawayo.
OUR MAIN FOCUS AREA
SHDF key focus include:
1. Climate-Smart Livelihoods and Food Security: SHDF supports households and community groups to adopt sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient production systems, including nutrition gardens, water management innovations, and small-scale enterprise development to improve food security and income generation.
2. Women and Youth Economic Empowerment: SHDF works with women and young people to strengthen entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and access to markets through training, mentorship, and collective economic models such as savings groups and cooperatives.
3. Community Enterprise and Market Development: SHDF promotes value chain development and fair trade opportunities for community producers, including artisans and small-scale farmers, helping them improve product quality, market access, and income sustainability.
4. Financial Literacy and Cooperative Development: SHDF facilitates the establishment and strengthening of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) and community savings groups to build financial confidence, investment capacity, and locally driven economic growth.
5. Community Innovation and Appropriate Technologies: SHDF promotes simple, locally adaptable technologies, such as water harvesting systems, sustainable production methods, and low-cost innovations, to address everyday community challenges.
6. Gender Equality, Gender Based Violence prevention, Sexual & Reproductive Health and Wellness: SHDF works to promote gender equality, prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and strengthen access to sexual & reproductive health information and services, particularly for women and girls. Through community awareness, life-skills education, SHDF supports safe spaces, informed decision making, and improved wellbeing for individuals and families.
The capacity and expertise of SHDF is drawn from over 60 years of community work empowering women and youth to improve their lives through tailor-made self-help projects through business development services, vocational skills development and organizational development services. It is from this base that SHDF presents itself as a formidable capacity building institute that is able to provide tailor-made programs and project management services for other organizations throughout Zimbabwe.
In 2009 – 2010 SHDF was contracted to design and manage a project in managing a revolving fund on behalf of the British Embassy and the Mutare City Council. The project saw 75 former commercial sex workers receiving loans (total value of US$25,000-00) in the form of inputs for either a poultry or garment-making project. The project was successfully implemented and ended with the women securing 4,000sq. mtr of land from Mutare City Council to build permanent Poultry structures.
SHDF has successfully equipped over 800 farmers from Mrewa Agriculture under the RAIN-Zimbabwe project in Mrewa on “Farming as a Business” in November 2010. This process entailed developing of a Trainers manual, participant handouts in vernacular, training of the farmers using some of Mercy Corps record keeping and income statement formats and submitting a comprehensive report.
In addition, SHDF was contracted by SNV to mentor 60 Agro-dealers in Mashonaland West province for the period 1 February 2011 to 30 September 2012. The project entailed conducting of a gap analysis to audit on skills, systems and processes on all agro-dealers in the program; developing a capacity building plan for each agro-dealer that would use mentoring and coaching on retail business aspects; facilitating the agro-dealers to establish and adopt professional business systems; credit provision to both farmers and agro-dealers; creating market linkages for the agro-dealers; facilitate the establishment of output marketing arrangements; assisting agro-dealers to develop business plans.
SOS Bindura has previously engaged SHDF to assist its beneficiaries (30) in Savings Management, Group Management and Dynamics in 2010.
SHDF has partnered the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, European Union and British Embassy. SHDF has the staff with the required capacity, experience and expertise to successfully build capacity of any target group.
SHDF has worked with several partners such as USAID, CARE, GTZ, Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Germany), Louvain Development (Belgium), European Commission, German Embassy, French Embassy, Japanese Embassy, British Embassy, to mention a few. These partnerships built capacity in SHDF to communicate and coordinate with funding partners, to meet contractual obligations, to maintain accurate project records and to manage project funds prudently.
SHDF has a qualified and competent fulltime staff compliment of 18 and community based volunteers at ward level known as ward facilitators. SHDF has offices at district level namely, Zhombe, Gwanda, Buhera and Seke. In addition there is a regional office in Bulawayo and the Head Office in Harare. See attached organogram for details.