WASSER FÜR WASSER (WfW)

COUNTRY PORTRAIT

History

In the regional context, Zambia is an economically and politically stable country. Zambia became independent from the United Kingdom in 1964. After turbulent decades marked by economic instability and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s, the country has experienced solid average economic growth of over 4 percent since 1990. Between 1990 and 2017, income per capita almost tripled, putting Zambia at the lower end of the middle-income bracket. This economic development is largely based on stable political conditions, sound domestic as well as financial policies and a high demand for copper, the country’s main export.

Strong Inequality

Nevertheless, the country still faces enormous economic and social challenges. Zambia ranks in the lower third of the Human Development Index (HDI), which is reflected by the fact that 60 percent of the population live below the poverty line. Zambia is one of the countries with the highest income inequality in the world.

Water and Sanitation Situation

Zambia has sufficient water resources to meet its needs compared to local standards. Nonetheless, more than a third of all Zambians do not have safe access to clean water and about half of the population is lacking access to basic sanitary facilities. Especially in fast-growing cities, where the local capacities are insufficient to absorb the rapid influx of people.

Population
19.1 million

Life Expectancy
64 years

Human Development Index (HDI)
Rank 146 (Total 189)

WASH Situation
35% without basic water access
68% without basic access to sanitary facilities

Urbanisation rate
3.2%

Street market in Kanyama, Lusaka / Gareth Bentley / WSUP

COMPOUNDS

Neighbourhoods with high density stress are created due to rapid migration to cities. In Zambia they are called compounds. They are characterised by inadequate infrastructure, great poverty, underdeveloped health and education systems as well as an informal economy. Infrastructure for drinking water, sewage, sanitation and drainage is also scarce.

Zambezi river aerial view

ECONOMIC WATER SCARCITY

Thanks to comparatively large surface and groundwater volumes as well as high rainfall during the rainy season, Zambia has sufficient fresh water resources to meet its needs. However, these resources are not readily accessible due to missing or inadequate infrastructure as well as a lack of know-how and investments.

PROJECT AREA LUSAKA

Current Situation

In the Zambian capital of Lusaka, the population has tripled since 1990 to more than 2.5 million. Many newcomers move to informal urban areas where water and sanitation services are hard to come by. Today, 65% of the population - more than the 10 largest Swiss cities combined - live in compounds. In these areas, the average daily income per capita is less than USD 1.90. Around 60% of the people have no secure access to urban drinking water supplies and even more live without a secure access to basic sanitation.

Population of Lusaka
2.5 million
1.6 million in compounds

WASH compounds
60% without access to drinking water
90% without access to sanitary facilities

WfW kiosk in Misisi, Lusaka

Street scene in John Laing, Lusaka

PROJECT AREA LIVINGSTONE

Livingstone is located at the international borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. The population has more than doubled since 1990 to 180,000 inhabitants today. More than 40% live in compounds.

Although the city attracts many tourists thanks to the nearby Victoria Falls, a large portion of the permanent resident population lives without a basic drinking water supply. This can be attributed in particular to heavy losses of drinking water through the pipeline system.

Szene in Livingstone Wasser für Wasser Wf W

Population of Livingstone
180'000

Population in Compounds
72'000

WASH Livingstone
12% without access to drinking water
62% excluding access to sanitary facilities

GOALS

The improvement of the water supply in fast-growing urban areas improves the lives of thousands of people. Our goals are based on this fundamental vision:

creating and improving safe and affordable access to water for the poorest segments of the population

sustainable strengthening of the local water sector through targeted measures

supporting and connecting local actors and structures in a goal-oriented way in order to prevent parallel structures

MEASURES

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Viewing of a map of John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter, WfW

HOUSE CONNECTIONS

A step by step approach is needed to reduce the time and distance required for water procurement. As a first step, our partners build public drinking water stations connected to the municipal water supply, so-called water kiosks. As a second step, connections can be installed in houses.

Repair work done by Luke Mwansa. Luke's vocational training was supported by WfW and he now works for the local water supplier. / Lior Etter, WfW

LOCAL OWNERSHIP

Residents of the project areas are involved in the process from the outset. This creates incentives for a sustainable use of the infrastructure and transfers responsibility to the population and local institutions.

Morris Etter (1.f.l) engaged in a conversation with local partners / Isabelle Weber

PARTNERSHIPS

WfW establishes long-term relationships with local partner organisations and provides them with organisational support. They are the main actors in implementation, building on the joint conceptual design of projects.

Workshop at Lusaka Vocational Training Centre (LVTC) / Lior Etter, WfW

BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY

Education in the water sector is promoted on a structural basis. Local capacities are strengthened in order to maintain and expand existing as well as future water supply systems.