Improving sanitation in Zambia 

Fewer than 15 per cent of people in rural areas of Zambia have access to a hygienic toilet. Strengthening local capacity for improving sanitation will have beneficial effects for the un-served and under served.

In rural Zambia, access to reliable, safe and sustainable sanitation and water services is limited, with only around 40 per cent of people using a protected water source and fewer than 15 per cent having a hygienic toilet.

Improving sanitation in twelve rural districts of Zambia is part of an ongoing programme that supports sanitation and rural water supply implemented through local government authorities with the assistance of Zambia's Ministry of Local Government and Housing and Danida.

Photo: COWI
Rural areas of Zambia are an under served sector in terms of sanitation.


Biggest challenge

"The biggest challenge here," according to COWI Community Development Specialist Annelies Leemans, "is building capacity at a district level that can absorb the funding that will improve sanitation and water supply facilities."

There are a number of challenges to tackle, including i) defining the term 'appropriate sanitary facilities' – it is used regularly in discussions but has yet to be given an exact definition; ii) the perception that on-site sanitation is a personal responsibility to be funded privately, with only institutions such as primary schools and health centres being eligible to receive a subsidy; and iii) the building of capacity of local private sector organisations and NGOs. COWI is providing advisory support on these matters.

Capacity building

District level capacity building will allow councils and officers to plan, prioritise, design, tender and supervise sanitation projects.

Capacity building goes hand in hand with rehabilitation of existing unsafe or defunct installations, improvement of existing un-protected open wells using locally available materials where possible, hygiene and sanitation promotion campaigns in cooperation with local health authorities and NGOs, the promotion of construction of household latrines, and the training of water user committees in all aspects of community based management of facilities.

Improved conditions

The outcome for the rural population is expected to be improved living conditions through provision of a sustainable community supply and sanitation infrastructure delivered through a decentralised government structure supported by NGOs and the private sector.

By Martyn Glanville
Published: 26.04.2007