Zambia's Profile on Water and sanitation

http://www.endwaterpoverty.org/ our Wash advocacy work in Dakar - Senegal during the 2015 AfricaSan Meeting.

OUR SCHOOL SANITATION WORKS IN CENTRAL PROVINCE - KAPIRI PROVINCE

VAREN PILOTED A LOW COST VIP LATRINE DESIGN  IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF AND FURTHER ROLLED OUT IN MOST GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS IN ZAMBIA.

BELOW ARE SOME OF OUR WORKS IN 25 RURAL SCHOOLS IN  KAPIRIMPOSHI DISTRICT.

VAREN roll out the Low cost latrine technology with UNICEF and DFID throughout Zambia

Our Story of Change on School Sanitation

Name of Project: Interim School Wash Project.

Funded by DFID through UNICEF- Zambia.

Piloted and up-scaled by: Vision Africa Regional Network – Zambia 

Title: Improved School Sanitation facilities a Motivation to Learners

A story from Mount Carmel Primary School

Background: 

Experiences from the field

The Voice of the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS)

During the pilot phase the District Education Board Secretary commented on the need to adopt the newly introduced low cost technology in order to accelerate the sanitation improvement in schools with cost effectiveness. The DEBS office was highly excited with the introduction of this interim WASH standard which led them to request VAREN to upscale the work and help schools to realize the vision of providing quality education. The DEBS highlighted that due to poor sanitation facilities in most schools, teachers are de-motivated and even pupils especially girls who are at puberty during their menstruation.

The female Pupil’s voice about the newly constructed sanitation facilities

Catharine Banda a grade eight (8) pupil at Mount Carmel said that I never thought of using the school toilet because the situation was beyond explanation. At my school we are over 1,000 but only two latrines available which are being used by all grades from one to  Nine, imagine the situation, and at my age it is practically impossible because I feel insecure, shame and very uncomfortable. Since the  coming of these latrines I can’t hide my happiness and excitement. The dream of spending more hours at school and enjoying my learning has come true. The handwashing facility is just so amazing that  I feel like washing my hands all the time. Thank you to VAREN and your supporters UNIECF and DFID for the extraordinary work and gift you have given us.   

  

Written by: Jackson Mwenya

Executive Direction for VAREN

POSITION PAPER ON GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS WATER CHALLENGES IN LUAPULA PROVINCE IN 2014

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE POSITION PAPER PRESENTED TO NGOS IN LUAPULA REGARDING THE UPSCALING OF WATER AND SANITATION IN THE PROVINCE FOLLOWING THE PETITION MADE TO THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA MR.  MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA IN SEPTEMBER, 2013.

RESPONSE PRESENTED BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING REV. HAWARD SIKWELA.

The Permanent secretary reaffirmed government commitment to end water poverty and it has prioritized the sector in National Planning to enhance resource allocation as a means to alleviate poverty and socio-economic development.

In 2014 budget the government has allocated a total number K417.8 million towards improvement of water supply and sanitation services in the country. It is expected that over 602, 500 people in rural areas will benefit from accessing clean and safe drinking water.

Specific commitment to Luapula Province by Government of the Republic of Zambia

A). Rural Water Supply and Sanitation

1). 553 Boreholes will be constructed.

2). 316 Boreholes will be rehabilitated.

3). 43 Hand- dug wells will be constructed.

4). 202 institutional VIP toilets will be constructed.

All these investments will be undertaken through the support of Government, UNICEF and JAICA.

B). Urban and Peri-Urban Areas -Water Supply and Sanitation

1). US$10Million has been secured from ARAB Bank of Development in Africa (BADEA) for improvement of Water and Sanitation facilities in Mansa and Kawambwa. Works are expected to start by the second quarter of this year.

2). 12 Water schemes will be constructed.

Information Management Systems

The Ministry is in a process of ensuring that all districts and provincial centers have a comprehensive data base.

CSOs’ Requirements

CSOs need to give Ministry of Local Government the number of portable lab for water quality testing and the detailed costs so that they engage the ministry of finance for support.

FURTHER RECOMMENDATION WORTH GOVRNMENT CONSIDERATION

There is need for the government to specifically provide 0.5% from the GDP rather than depending largely on external support.

Zambia 2014 High Level Commitment to address WASH challenges in the country.

 

COUNTRY STATEMENT OF COMMITMENTS

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA- 2014

1. Key sector indicators

Water: Zambia through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) developed two national programs to guide the implementation of water and sanitation projects, resulting in improved sector support activities. The two programs are the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program (2011 – 2030) and the National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Program (2006 – 2015). According to the JMP, the national coverage on water stands at 64%, hence more resources still need to be invested in the water sector.

Sanitation and hygiene: However, limited progress has been made in sanitation resulting in Zambia remaining off-track to achieve the MDG target on sanitation. The JMP reports that the national rate for improved sanitation is 42%, while that of rural areas is 33 percent. According to the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) sanitation coverage for urban areas stands at 57 percent. Zambia recognizes this challenge and is accelerating efforts to increase sanitation coverage by implementing a sanitation roll out program targeting 3 million people in rural areas by 2015. Simultaneously, the extension of sanitation services to urban and peri-urban areas will be implemented targeting 500,000 people to gain access to adequate sanitation by 2016.

Disparities: Some disparities exist in provision of water. The JMP indicates that only 50% of Zambians in the rural areas have access to an improved water source while the figure for the urban areas stands at 80 percent. There are also inadequacies in the provision of sanitation, especially for households in peri-urban and low-income areas leading to outbreaks of diseases.

Impact on health, economy, poverty and other sectors: Poor water and sanitation provision negatively affects Zambia’s economy. It was estimated by the World Bank (WSP, 2012), that as at the year 2010, Zambia was losing 1.3% of its GDP, or US$194 Million) annually due to bad sanitation.

1. Long term vision and focus for 2016: Zambia is committed to achieving universal access to water and sanitation in order to improve the quality of life and enhance economic growth. The country aims to achieve by 2015, 75% access to reliable safe water and 60% access to adequate sanitation (Sixth National Development Plan - SNDP). The long term vision is the achievement of 90% access to adequate sanitation and 100% access to safe water supply by 2030 (Vision 2030).

Focus between 2014 and 2016: Between 2014 and 2016, Zambia will focus on increasing investments in the sector. A financing mechanism will be developed to provide clear targets on WASH and improve sustainability. The implementation of an effective management of information system will improve planning, resource allocation and monitoring. Implementation of activities will be aligned to the decentralization policy. The country’s focus will also be on rolling out sanitation coverage in peri-urban and rural areas.This will contribute to the elimination of inequalities and achievement of open defecation free status by 2020.

Fit with national priorities: Devolution of resources and authority to Local Authorities is in line with the Decentralization Policy and results in improved service delivery. Increasing coverage in rural and peri – urban areas is in line with the Vision 2030 andSNDP which aim at reducing inequalities.

2. Key bottlenecks: The 2012 WASH Bottleneck Analysis Synthesis report for Zambia indicates that lack of an effective management of information systems and inadequate financing are key bottlenecks. Additionally the report cited poor profiling of sanitation, fragmented plans, low hygiene communication and lack of sanitation solutions for challenging areas as key bottlenecks in implementing the sanitation roll out program. 

3. Summary of progress on 2012 HLM Commitments

Commitments on increasing financing to water and sanitation: Slow progress on commitments to increase financing to WASH. This commitment will be taken to 2014, with a focus on developing a financing strategy that guarantees increased national budget allocation and growth in the sector.

Commitments on development of an effective information management system: Good progress on commitment. Although progress in 2012 was slow, Government and partners are working together to develop an effective national information management system. The objective is to overcome capacity and technical issues which led to the old system being ineffective and unusable. The system is expected to improve planning and monitoring and evaluation. 

Commitments on Capacity: Good progress in human resource allocation to Local Authorities. Implementation of decentralization policy needs to be scaled up, focusing on devolution of activities, strengthening the Local Authorities’ resource mobilization and improving staff allocation. A capacity development strategy will be developed to guide the sector, followed by implementation of planned interventions.

Commitments on sanitation and eliminating of open defecation: Progress slow but gaining momentum. The focus will be to develop a strategy to sustain interventions and increase coverage inperi–urban and rural areas.

4. 2014 SMART Commitments

Financing: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing and the Ministry of Finance to jointly develop by 2016, a financing strategy, with specific investment targets for water and sanitation.