From September 1 to 3, 2025, Zimbabwe will host a three-day training workshop and policy dialogue focused on tackling illicit financial flows (IFFs) and resource-backed loans (RBLs) in the country’s natural resource sector. Organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, the initiative is part of the GONAT project (Governance of Natural Resource Outflows for Greater Economic Resilience in Fragile and Transitional States) and aims to strengthen natural resource governance and fiscal transparency in Zimbabwe.
The workshop will be conducted in two main phases. The first two days feature technical training, covering monitoring and control of illicit activities in the natural resource sector as well as the analysis, negotiation, and management of resource-backed loans. Participants include officials from ministries and agencies responsible for fiscal management, revenue collection, central banking, anti-corruption, natural resource management, and the legislature, enabling a valuable exchange of knowledge, best practices, and institutional learning to ensure sustainable public policies.
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The third day will host a policy dialogue, bringing together government representatives, the private sector, civil society, women entrepreneurs, and local communities. This forum will allow participants to integrate the tools and methodologies from the training into national policies, promoting multisectoral cooperation, transparency, and effective governance of Zimbabwe’s natural resources.
Illicit financial flows remain a major barrier to sustainable economic development in resource-rich African countries. This workshop and dialogue position Zimbabwe as a regional leader in preventing illicit financial practices and managing natural resources responsibly, marking a strategic step toward enhanced economic resilience and fiscal transparency. The Zimbabwe event is the fifth in a regional series, following workshops held in the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Chad, and Mozambique. The series underscores the ongoing commitment of the African Development Bank and African governments to strengthen natural resource governance and economic resilience in fragile and transitional states.