Zimbabwe Strategic Economic Research and Analysis (SERA), 2011-2015

Since taking office in 2009, Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity has been working to restore macroeconomic stability and boost economic growth. It has made significant progress, but numerous structural reforms are still needed to increase growth and encourage trade, investment, and job creation. In support of such reforms, Nathan Associates is managing the USAID-funded Strategic Economic Research and Analysis Program (SERA). The program has three primary objectives:

1. Improve the economic environment for inclusive growth in Zimbabwe by building capacity for evidence-based policy analysis and research.
2. Strengthen the capacity of policy development institutions.
3. Improve economic data for use by researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

 To achieve these objectives, the program is to produce four results:

1. Improved capacity for evidence-based analysis of economic policy and for policy management.
2. Improved government capacity to analyze, adapt, and implement evidence-based options for economic policy.
3. Improved capacity of research institutions to provide analytical support to economic policymakers.
4. Improved quality, timeliness, and availability of economic data and statistics.

 On a demand-driven basis, Nathan Associates provides management and administrative services, technical assistance to Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), and to the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (ZEPARU). The technical services to ZEPARU include research and analysis, training of economists and Parliamentarians, and research dissemination and policy workshops. SERA also provides general guidance on coordination with other USAID programs, partner organizations, and other donors; prioritization of pro-poor policies and inclusive growth strategies; and application of a gender lens to all SERA activities. 

Read about SERA’s support for ZIMSTAT’s Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey covering more than 30,000 households.

Read about SERA’s August 2012 forum, “Unleashing Zimbabwe’s Growth Potential,” which covered mining sector reform, financial system  development and deposit insurance scheme reform, the country’s currency regime and monetary policy, the path to employment-rich growth, and the benefits of cash budgeting.