NFT, World Vision seal landmark disability inclusion partnership in Gwanda
By Staff Reporter
GWANDA – In a major step toward inclusive and equitable community development, Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT) and World Vision Zimbabwe (Gwanda ) have entered into a strategic five-year partnership aimed at advancing disability inclusion across Gwanda District.
The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which establishes a clear framework for joint action to ensure that children, youths and families living with disabilities are meaningfully included in social, economic and developmental programmes.
The partnership brings together World Vision Zimbabwe’s extensive community development footprint and NFT’s specialised expertise as a disability-led community-based organisation. Both institutions have committed to addressing structural, social and attitudinal barriers that continue to exclude persons with disabilities, particularly in rural communities.
Speaking on the partnership, NFT Director Mr. Pick Nkomwa said the agreement represents a crucial step toward localisation and sustainable development.
“I am deeply humbled by this partnership arrangement. Effective development programmes require strong partnerships, especially at local levels, to achieve true localisation and the meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities and their representative organisations,” said Nkomwa.
The MOU underscores the urgent need to mainstream disability inclusion across key sectors, including education, health, livelihoods, food security, child protection, disaster risk reduction and spiritual nurturing.
Under the agreement, NFT will provide technical leadership and on-the-ground expertise in disability identification and assessment, awareness campaigns, disability parenting forums, and improving access to education for boys and girls with disabilities. The partnership also places strong emphasis on youth empowerment, with provisions to facilitate enrolment of young people with disabilities into vocational and skills training programmes.
Capacity building forms a critical pillar of the collaboration, with NFT supporting the training of headmasters, teachers, community leaders and government officials to promote inclusive disability development. This includes strengthening sign language capacity and enhancing community-level understanding of disability rights and inclusion.
Mr Nkomwa said the partnership presents an opportunity to reshape perceptions and outcomes for persons with disabilities in the district.
“We are more than ready to transform and change the narrative of persons with disabilities in Gwanda District. If programming is not inclusive, then it is simply not effective,” he said.
The MOU will be implemented under World Vision’s Gwanda Cluster Programmes, covering several Area Programmes, including Mzimuni, Bolamba and Enqameni. Activities will be supported through long-term sponsorship resources as well as short-term grants targeting specific needs across the district.
World Vision Zimbabwe has committed to mobilising financial, technical and material resources to support the effective implementation of inclusive disability programmes, while working closely with NFT, local authorities and communities in line with national laws and cultural norms. The organisation will also provide administrative and logistical support and ensure regular engagement with relevant authorities on programme progress.
Both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to accountability, safeguarding and transparency, with the MOU outlining strict adherence to Zimbabwean laws, child safeguarding standards, ethical performance, and joint monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Clear guidelines on auditing, dispute resolution and ownership of programme materials further underscore a community-centred approach to development.
Signed in Gwanda in late January 2026, the agreement is expected to have a lasting impact on disability inclusion in the district, positioning Gwanda as a potential model for inclusive development partnerships.
By combining global development experience with local, disability-led expertise, NFT and World Vision aim to ensure that no child or young person is left behind, regardless of ability.