By Cecilia Chiluba,Zambia, Lusaka
Government has unveiled a US$33 million Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Growth Centres Program-for-Results, with over 99,000 citizens expected to directly benefit from the initiative.
The World Bank-supported program will directly benefit communities served by Kafubu, Luapula, North-Western, and Western Water Supply and Sanitation Companies. Further, about 1.7 million people will benefit indirectly through improved operational efficiency across the sector.
Speaking during the launch of the program in Lusaka, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Collins Nzovu, hailed the World Bank for approving the US$33 million financing through the International Development Association (IDA).
Eng. Nzovu said the financing comprises US$27 million under the Program-for-Results and US$6 million for Investment Project Financing dedicated to capacity building and technical support, signaling a strong vote of confidence in the Government’s reform programme.
He highlighted that access to clean water and sanitation remains a major challenge, with only 62 percent of the population having access to basic water supply and 37 percent to basic sanitation.
The Minisetr emphasized that access to clean and safe water, as well as adequate sanitation, is a fundamental human right and the foundation of public health, economic productivity, and human dignity.
He explained that the newly unveiled programme represents a shift in how government delivers services, transitioning from input-based approaches to results-driven implementation, with a focus on efficiency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
According to Eng. Nzovu, the initiative will focus on strengthening governance and transparency in utilities, while also improving service performance through modern technologies, reduction of water losses, enhanced energy efficiency, and climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in rural growth centres.
“Particular emphasis will be placed on rural growth centres, where investments will focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, including solar-powered water systems, reduction of non-revenue water, and expanded access to safe and reliable water services,” Eng. Nzovu stated.
And World Bank Country Director, Dr. Firas Raad, noted that despite Zambia holding over 45% of Southern Africa’s surface water, urban water coverage had fallen to 81.7%, and urban sanitation to 68.5% by 2025, while poor sanitation alone is silently draining the resources the country needs to grow.
“Therefore, the official launch of this transformative program goes to the very heart of why development work matters: ensuring clean water and dignified sanitation for every Zambian citizen,” he said.
“The Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Growth Centers Program — a US$33 million Program — is built on a simple but powerful principle: results matter more than inputs. This is a Program-for-Results. Money flows when changes and results are achieved and verified. Not when plans are written but when people receive services.”
He observed that the programme is anchored in the Government’s Zambia Water Investment Program (ZIP), a US$5.75 billion national framework, and aligns with the WASH Compact commitments for 2026–2030.
Dr. Raad, however, stressed that the financing gap in the WASH Compact stands at US$1.27 billion.
“That gap cannot be closed by donor financing alone. It will only close when Zambia commits to cost-reflective tariffs and regulatory independence, utility accountability through performance, coordinated partner investment, private sector included,” he emphasized.
