Case stories on capacity development and sustainable results

40 Capacity: ResultsZAMBIA – Support tothe water sectorContextAccess to safe drinking water is a keyfactor in the economic and social developmentof any country. Zambia has apopulation of 13.5 million people and anurbanization rate of 39 percent, but as recentlyas 2006 only two-thirds of the country’surban population had access to safedrinking water. This was largely due topoor town planning and investment strategies,along with inefficient managementstructures, unclear division of responsibility,and rapid increases in Zambia’s urbanpopulation.Development resultsSince 2006, the provision of safe watersupplies to urban dwellers has increasedfrom two-thirds of the population to morethan three-quarters. With combined investmentsin infrastructure and capacitydevelopment, the installation of 400ResultsInvestments in infrastructure and capacitydevelopment have helped bring clean drinkingwater to more than 77 percent of urban dwellers.400 ‘water-kiosks’ have given 800,000 people inlow-income urban and peri-urban communitiesaccess to safe drinking water.‘water-kiosks’ has given 800,000 people inlow-income urban and peri-urban communitiesaccess to safe drinking water.The government is planning to expandaccess to the entire urban population – anadditional estimated 2.85 million people –by 2015.Enhanced performanceThe 1994 National Water Policy reformedZambia’s water sector, which is regulatedand economically sustained by theNational Water and Sanitation Council.Among the most significant outcomeswas the establishment of 11 CommercialWater Utilities, which provide water andsanitation services to 92 percent of the urbanpopulation.The optimization of institutional structuresand processes has made water andsanitation institutions perform better. Thisis part of an approach that has enhancedcapacities at the political, organizational,and individual levels, which has enabledresources to be managed more effectivelyand has produced tangible results.Training has enabled ministries, localgovernments, and utilities to identifytheir needs and plan for their organizationaland infrastructure priorities. Forexample, the National Water and SanitationCouncil now monitors the progressof commercial utilities and produces