The European Commission has allocated €9 million to safeguard access to food for vulnerable people affected by the breakdown of essential services in Zimbabwe. The funds will be channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department under the direct responsibility of the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

The funds will be used to provide short-term food security and livelihood support. They are part of the Short Term support Strategy for an amount of 120 million € to be implemented by the European Commission following the visit of Prime Minister Tsvangirai and his Governmental delegation to Brussels on 18 June 2009.

The food supply and availability has improved for the 2009/2010 season thanks to a good harvest, the dollarization of the economy and the liberalisation of the cereals market. Nevertheless, the country has suffered from chronic food insecurity since 2002, originating from a number of factors.

In the year 2000, the government of Zimbabwe launched a fast track land reform programme with a view to address the land distribution pattern inherited at independence in 1980. Problems encountered in the implementation of this Reform Programme had adverse effects on the agricultural sector productivity, reducing the country’s food security.

In addition, dry weather, shortages of tractor/draught power for tillage, fuel, and fertilizers, under-investment in infrastructure and lack of incentive because of price controls crippled the agricultural and other sectors and led to an unrelieved shortage of basic commodities and services from 2000 onwards.

The European Commission is overall the main donor to the vulnerable populations of Zimbabwe, having provided €572 million in both humanitarian and essential development aid to the population since 2002. Moreover, European Union confirmed in 2008 its position as the world's largest donor of development aid, with nearly 60% of world aid. The Commission alone has committed 12 million euros, or more than one fifth of the overall European effort.