The African Development Fund’s Board of Directors approved a loan of $13.2 million to Zambia , in Abidjan.
This funding aims to implement innovative strategies and enhance access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for 460,000 residents in Kabwe and Bauleni. Additionally, the project seeks to bolster the resilience of these communities against climate change impacts.
Alongside the concessional loans from the African Development Bank Group, the European Union, a strategic partner, is contributing $6.05 million through its Nexus Energy and Water Programme for Zambia, part of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative.
Raubil Durowoju, head of the African Development Bank Group’s Country Office in Zambia, stated, “The project focuses on enhancing the quality of water and sanitation services in Kabwe and Bauleni, while also improving the financial and operational efficiency of service providers in Lukanga and Lusaka.”
The initiative includes plans to rehabilitate the Mulungushi water purification facility in Kabwe, which involves extracting water from the river, upgrading untreated water piping, and replacing outdated treatment and pumping systems to resume production of 37,500 cubic meters of drinking water daily.
It will also enhance the water transport and distribution network by extending over 70 km and constructing five boreholes in Kalulu and Mukobeko catchment areas in Kabwe.
Renewable energy technologies will be utilized, along with innovative solutions such as smart meters, to lower operating costs by installing energy-efficient equipment in the water supply system.
The project will partner with organizations like UNICEF to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services, while also promoting awareness of integrated nutrition, hygiene services, climate resilience, and waste and water management among at least 10,000 individuals.
The African Development Bank’s extensive experience in Zambia’s water sector positions it as a vital ally in assisting the Zambian government with this project.
The Bank has been involved in Zambia’s water initiatives since the late 1970s, starting with a 1979 project aimed at enhancing services in five provincial centers, including Choma, Kalomo, Livingstone, and Monze. To date, the Bank has supported 14 projects focused on ensuring the long-term security of water supply and sanitation services in Zambia.
Source :African Development Bank Group
