Improving Health Outcomes for the Population of Zimbabwe III -ACT-60560. ARES (2022): 4546759 This Action will support high impact interventions to save lives and protect the health of the most vulnerable (especially women, new-borns, children and people with disabilities), with full consideration of specific gender needs. This includes strengthening primary health care (PHC) structures, and enhancing health security measures, in order to protect the population against the main health threats. Activities will target district health facilities in the country as the most effective approach to maintain access to quality health services, through the Health Resilience Fund (HRF) (which will replace the current Health Development Fund (HDF)). The HDF contributed to impressive results in maternal and child mortality over the past decade but the gains made are threatened by ongoing economic instability, the impact of COVID-19, and the risk of a funding gap for the first semester of 2022. Other donors to the HDF are the UK¿s FCDO, SIDA, Irish Aid and GAVI.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Action is closely aligned to the Constitution, the national priorities set out in the National Development Strategy (NDS-1) and the Government of Zimbabwe¿s (GoZ) National Health Strategy 2021-2025. In line with the implementation of the MIP (2021-2017), the Action will ensure meaningful interaction with civil society for improving health outcomes and addressing vulnerabilities. In addition, this intervention will contribute to the SDGs on the eradication of poverty (SDG-1), zero hunger (SDG-2), good health and well-being (SDG-3), gender equality (SDG-5), and reduced inequality (SDG-10).&nbsp;Key elements of gender, disability, conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm approaches, human rights and democracy will be mainstreamed in the action. In addition, the Action will contribute to the #Team Europe Initiative (TEI) ¿Gender equality through women¿s empowerment¿. Approximately 70% of the action¿s budget (circa. amount of 28.7 MEURO) should target gender-based activities under the TEI. These activities are synergistic with the Spotlight Initiative in Zimbabwe to which the EU has contributed $30 million. The Spotlight Initiative aims to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and harmful practices (HP) through the consolidation of a broad partnership with civil society, Government, private sector, media and development partners. The HRF could complement and build on the successes of the Spotlight Initiative because the latter creates awareness in communities about women¿s rights, which in turn, could increase utilisation of services.&nbsp;Furthermore, the action will seek to enhance climate resilience and environmental sustainability through the promotion of sustainable waste disposal and management of renewable (solar) energy within primary health facilities.&nbsp;In order to provide such a comprehensive approach successfully, it is important to pool resources and ensure that the package of services is designed to respond to the needs of the targeted population. Therefore, services delivered will be adaptable to emerging health and nutrition situations, including emergencies such as epidemics and cyclones and emerging infectious diseases.&nbsp;With this Action, the EU will retain the role of one of the main Development Partner (DP) for promoting equitable access to quality health care and will have a lead role in coordination among the other donors and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC). This role will include steering priority activities and ensuring comprehensive governance and oversight of the Fund.&nbsp;The duration of the Action is indicatively 48 months. The total amount of the EU contribution is estimated at EUR 41 000 000 and will be executed through indirect management with UNICEF as Fund Manager and implemented by UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and CSOs.