MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSINGWELCOME TO ZAMBIA

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SERVICES IN SMALL TOWNS IN ZAMBIA

Peter LubamboDirector, Department of Housing and Infrastructure Development

Ministry of Local Government and HousingLusaka, Zambia

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

AIMS AND ORDER OF PRESENTATION

Aims of PresentationShare the challenges and opportunities for scaling up WSS services in small towns in Zambia

Order of PresentationDefinition of small towns Challenges of WSS in small townsGovernment of Zambia response to challenges (Reforms)Achievements and Outstanding ChallengesIs scaling up possible?

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

What is a small town?

District or sub-district centre (urban) surrounded by large rural hinterland Population of about 5,000 people Non-agricultural activities (mainly district admin. and services)Piped water supply Around 60 small towns in Zambia

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

Challenges Of Small Towns WSS

Small, inadequate and old water networks

Sanitation services generally non-existent

Inadequate financial resources (heavy reliance on donor financing)

Inadequate Local Authority capacities

Small civil service based population

Urban and rural populations in juxtaposition

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

WSS Reforms (1990-2000)National Water Policy (1994); Water Supply and Sanitation Act (1997)

Reforms in Practice - Urban WSSCommercial management, ring-fenced operations, investment financing through Business Plans; Operation and Maintenance from tariffs, Devolution Trust Fund

Reforms in Practice - Regulation Utility licensing, tariff setting, cross-subsidies and pro-poor regulation, Water Watch Groups

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

Achievements and progress to date

Nominal but consistent increase in government spending to the sectorRecognition of Commercial Utility model to better manage piped water supply, including ring-fencingImprovements to sector regulationImproved human resource capacity cutting across different professional disciplinesEnhanced visibility and focus on small towns and the urban poor

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

Challenges of small towns WSS

Financial Challenges Uncertain financial viability - not likely in the near futureContinued poor/low sector investments despite reforms

ManagementCorporate governance issuesRegulatory role overlaps into the executive arenaWorkability of CU models in provincesWeak national level institutions

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

Social Challenges

Inequities in service provision (part of town on higher service)

Part of population expected to contribute to capital investments

Unclear rural-urban distinction – hence unclear service delivery modality

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING

What is needed for scaling up?

Programmatic approaches for both rural and urban WSS• Common Financing mechanism• Enhanced monitoring and reporting

Improved regulatory framework based on incentivesTrue separation of regulatory and executive functionsAccelerated capacity building through decentralization Strengthen corporate governance of utilities More analytical work on management of small towns (WSP/WB) Strengthen options for local revenue mobilization e.g., sanitation levy, domestic financing Domestic private sector management

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING