Assessing the potential for self-supply in Zambia

The Millennium Development Goal target for safe water supply is currently unlikely to be met in Zambia. In order to serve the population that is unlikely to be reached under conventional communitybased water supply programmes, alternative approaches to water supply service provision need to be explored. One such alternative is the SelfSupply approach which encourages households to develop and improve their own infrastructure incrementally. However, to ensure the actualisation of such an approach an enabling environment needs to be created that includes enabling policies, sufficient private sector capacity, access to appropriate technologies and technical advice, and effective financial mechanisms and markets. Drawing on the findings of a baseline survey in Luapula province it is concluded that there is significant potential for SelfSupply in Zambia and that an enabling environment largely exists. There is a need, however, to develop effective microcredit facilities that are accessible to rural households

Reflection of Dublin principles in rural water supply approaches in Zambia

Water resources management (WRM) is a broad sector that comprises various sub sectors including rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS). Attempts have been made to articulate WRM at global level culminating into the development of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach defined by the Dublin Principles. However, these principles still need to be reflected in local actions that are used to implement the RWSS interventions. Hence, this paper focuses on identifying the extent to which IWRM is reflected in the RWSS implementation approach in Zambia known as the WASHE concept. The results of this assessment show that only two out of the four Dublin principles are adequately reflected in the WASHE concept. It is concluded that there is a need to integrate ground water management in IWRM and adapt catchment management to existing administrative governance systems in Zambia, and that the WASHE concept be revised and expanded accordingly