The government is launching a new programme to secure access to water in Zambia. The “Zambia Water Sector Investment Programme”, aims to mobilise $5.75 billion for the construction of new water supply facilities in the East African country.
In addition to improving water supply by 2030, the programme will create jobs in Zambia’s water sector. Some 200,000 formal jobs will be created through gender-sensitive investments in water security, industrialisation and climate-resilient development.
The component of a continental programme
The programme recently launched in collaboration with the International High Level Panel on Water Investments in Africa is part of the Continental Water Investment Programme (CWIP).
This initiative was adopted by African Heads of State and Government in February 2021 at the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly. The IPA aims to mobilise $30 billion of investment in regional, transboundary and national climate-resilient water infrastructure (dams, water transfer systems, irrigation systems, water management information systems, water supply) and sanitation infrastructure, all of which are critical to meeting Africa’s growing socio-economic needs.
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The IPA will also contribute to creating 5 million jobs as part of the African Water Vision and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) which calls for universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.
Inès Magoum