A workshop for the formulation of the Zimbabwe Economic Development Strategy (ZEDS): thematic group 6 - Enhancement of Social Service Delivery, co-funded by RHVP and the Ministry of Economic Development, was held at the Bronte Hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 19 March 2008. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare were responsible for coordinating the workshop.

The workshop's aim was to discuss issues around the theme on Enhancement of Social Service Delivery and the thematic group was broken down into three working groups - Health, Education and General Social Protection.

What is the ZEDS?

The Zimbabwe Economic Development Strategy (ZEDS) is a five-year medium-term development strategy to be implemented from 2009 to 2014 by the government of Zimbabwe as part of the process of realising the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe as expressed in the Vision 2020 and Millennium Development Goals (which Zimbabwe has acceded and is signatory to).

The vision by government of the formulation of ZEDS is that it is formulated in a participatory and consultative process which involves as many stakeholders as possible. The rational of this approach is to produce a document that the nation will identify with and own. The formulation of ZEDS is proceeding by way of thematic group meetings which include: Macro-economic stabilisation & growth, productive sectors, investment & export development, infrastructure development, enhancement of social services delivery, HIV & AIDS and Sustainable Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction.

Structure of the workshop

Workshop attendees included representatives from various INGOs and local NGOs, The World Bank, Centre for Applied Social Science, representatives from Government Ministries, and the Central Statistical Office.

The workshop format was a plenary session in the morning and group discussions in the afternoon. During the plenary session, presentations were heard from: Dr N.M Lenneiye, from the World Bank, whose presentation was on the World Bank's approach to Social Protection: A summary of social protection directions in Zimbabwe. Presentations were also heard from government Ministries which included: Health, Education and Social Welfare. These Ministry presentations focussed mainly on the status, trends, challenges and successes of their ministries since 1980.

In the afternoon, participants were divided into thematic groups as follows: Health, Education and Social Protection. The terms of reference for each group were to discuss information on their sector in relation to:

• Sector performance (the status and trends for the period 1980 - 2008
• Sector policy, institutional and legislative review for the period 1980 - 2008
• Sector challenges, constrains and successes for the period 1980 - 2008.

Each group also had to agree on working modalities, timing and submission of missing information beyond the workshop. The Social Protection working group agreed to have the next meeting at the Ministry of Public Service Labour & Social Welfare Boardroom on 1 April 2008.