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Why water access alone is not enough
In Pemba and Batoka, the water supply is under pressure, with tangible consequences for the population: recurring droughts lead to dried-up springs and reservoirs, power cuts often last for hours, and more than half of the water produced seeps away unused.
Instead of repairing and expanding the system in isolation, WfW, together with local stakeholders and the support of the Georg Fischer Water Foundation, decided on a more comprehensive approach: water access is not implemented from the outside, but is jointly designed.
The ‘Water (Supply) That Lasts’ initiative combines technical solutions with local knowledge, training and genuine participation and makes supply a shared responsibility.
Planning means: listening, involving, deciding together
Before the first sod was turned, there was a comprehensive dialogue phase: plots of land were mapped, existing systems analysed and water sources researched. Local community teams - the majority of whom were women - held discussions, organised forums and ensured that the local population was integrated into the planning process.
The result: action plans that were not developed ‘for’, but with the community. For example, the connection fee was reduced to give more households access. At the same time, households committed to making a contribution: by working in the teams, communicating in the neighbourhood or making small financial contributions towards materials or connection costs. In this way, supply is not only utilised, but also supported and the system becomes part of everyday life.
Infrastructure construction and education go hand in hand
In Pemba and Batoka, new boreholes, solar pumps and renovated water tanks have been built, adapted to recognised local needs and challenges. Over 17 kilometres of pipelines have been laid or renewed, accompanied by locally established construction teams who pass on their knowledge.
Infrastructure construction and education go hand in hand: 30 vocational school students and over 50 employees of the local water companies receive practical training in pump technology, network planning and fault management, for example.
There is also a new fault management system: residents can now report a fault directly using a simple code on their mobile phone, without forms or waiting times. Instead of weeks, a response now usually takes less than 24 hours.
The result: after the first construction phase, 58% of the population in the two small towns are already connected to a secure supply - a clear sign that the joint work is bearing fruit.
"In Pemba and Batoka, water supply technology was not simply installed, it was understood, jointly adapted and further developed. It shows how a stable supply is created when local people are allowed to help shape and grow structures. Today, local employees maintain solar pumps, repair leaks and respond quickly to feedback. Vocational school students have helped to build and are taking this knowledge with them into their future.
The result is a locally supported, adaptive supply model that could now also be transferred to larger city clusters."
– Kameya Kashweka, Programme Manager Programmes & Knowledge Management WfW Zambia
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