In Zambia, many urban residents face significant challenges in accessing clean water, particularly in low-income communities. The Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations (WSUP) organization has been actively working to improve water supply and sanitation services since 2005. This case study focuses on the experiences of Tilalibenji Banda, a resident of the Gondwe compound, who has benefited from WSUP’s initiatives in partnership with WASSER FÜR WASSER (WfW).
Before the implementation of the WSUP project, residents like Ms. Banda relied on unreliable and often unsafe sources for their water needs. She recounts how her community depended on a nearby paramilitary camp for water. However, after incidents of theft led to community members being labeled as thieves, access to this source was restricted. As a result, residents were forced to fetch water from farms, which was not only inconvenient but also dependent on the goodwill of guards at those locations. This situation created a cycle of dependence and vulnerability:
- Inconsistent Access: Water could only be obtained if a sympathetic guard was on duty.
- Physical Burden: Fetching water involved carrying heavy buckets over long distances.
- Health Risks: The sources used were often contaminated, posing health risks to the community.
Ms. Tilalibenji Banda
With the introduction of household connections for clean water through WSUP’s efforts, Ms. Banda describes a significant transformation in her daily life:
- Improved Quality of Life: “At this household, what has changed is that we are happy now, because we have water,” she states. The availability of clean water has allowed her family to maintain better hygiene practices.
- Children’s Well-being: The access to water has enabled children to bathe regularly and engage in better sanitation practices, contributing to their overall health and happiness.
- Community Empowerment: The establishment of local management teams under WSUP’s Delegated Management Model (DMM) has fostered community involvement in service delivery. This model empowers residents to take ownership of their water supply and ensures that services are tailored to their specific needs23.
The work of WSUP in Zambia exemplifies how targeted interventions can drastically improve access to essential services like clean water in underserved communities. By addressing both the infrastructural and managerial aspects of water supply, WSUP has not only enhanced the quality of life for individuals like Tilalibenji Banda but has also contributed to broader public health outcomes in urban areas. The success seen in Gondwe compound highlights the importance of sustainable partnerships between organizations like WSUP and local communities in achieving meaningful change.