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Zambia NGO WASH FORUM, Plot 12/100, Ibex Hill, Ibex Hill, Lusaka (2026)

07/10/2026

PRESS STATEMENT

NGO WASH FORUM CALLS FOR STRONG WASH COMMITMENTS IN 2026 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

Lusaka, Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – The Zambia NGO WASH Forum has called for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to receive strong attention in the 2026 State of the Nation Address, as the country prepares to transition from the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) to the Ninth National Development Plan (9NDP).

Forum Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe Mumba said the address provides an important opportunity to set the direction for WASH over the next five years and
demonstrate how Zambia intends to build on progress made under the 8NDP while addressing the gaps that remain.

Ms Mumba said the Forum expects the address to recognise WASH as an important part of Zambia’s development agenda, with clear attention to reliable water supply, safely managed sanitation, hygiene, public health and climate resilience.

She said the Forum’s submission to the 9NDP proposes an overall development outcome of improved access to sustainable and climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The submission calls for stronger investment in climate-
resilient water infrastructure, water quality monitoring, sustainable operations and maintenance, protection of water sources and improved service delivery.

“We would like to hear a clear commitment to move beyond simply expanding infrastructure to making sure that water systems remain functional, water quality is protected and services are reliable. The effects of droughts, floods and pressure on water resources mean that climate resilience must now be built into the way Zambia plans and invests in WASH,” Ms Mumba said.

The Forum also expects sanitation to receive greater attention, particularly wastewater treatment, faecal sludge management, solid waste management and
sanitation services in schools, health facilities, markets and other public institutions.

Its 9NDP submission proposes improved access to safely managed and inclusive sanitation services and identifies inadequate sanitation infrastructure, weak faecal sludge and wastewater management systems among the challenges that need to be addressed.

Ms Mumba said hygiene should equally be recognised as a distinct development priority and not only addressed during disease outbreaks.

The Forum has proposed a dedicated hygiene strategy under the 9NDP covering inclusive hand and personal hygiene facilities, menstrual health and hygiene, national hygiene behaviour change programmes and stronger hand hygiene
promotion in communities and institutions.

“We need to move away from responding to WASH mainly when there is a crisis. Hygiene promotion, safe sanitation and reliable water services require sustained attention and investment before outbreaks occur,” she said.

Ms Mumba further called for the SONA to provide a clear signal on sustainable domestic financing for WASH, particularly as Zambia moves into a new
development planning period.

She said predictable financing is needed not only for new infrastructure, but also for maintenance, regulatory capacity, water source protection and hygiene behaviour change. She stated that stronger domestic WASH financing can reduce reliance on emergency responses while supporting public health, employment, gender equity and protection of natural resources.

The Forum also wants to see stronger recognition of water security as part of Zambia’s response to climate change.

Ms Mumba said droughts, floods and other climate pressures can affect water availability and damage WASH infrastructure. The Forum’s 9NDP submission
therefore proposes climate-resilient water infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, stronger protection of water sources and improved capacity for emergency WASH response.

She added that investment must be accompanied by stronger accountability, monitoring and coordination among Government institutions, local authorities,
commercial utilities, civil society, communities and the private sector.

“As we enter the 9NDP period, the question should not only be how much infrastructure we build, but whether people have reliable water, safely managed
sanitation and hygiene services that continue to work. We hope the State of the Nation Address will give WASH the attention it deserves and set a clear direction for addressing the gaps that remain,” Ms Mumba said.

She reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to work constructively with Government, Parliament, local authorities, cooperating partners, communities and other stakeholders towards equitable and sustainable WASH services for all Zambians.

For any queries contact:

Bridget Siulanda
Communications Officer
NGO WASH FORUM
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +260 774547138

05/10/2026

As Zambia begins a new parliamentary term, the NGO WASH Forum highlights WASH commitments from three available 2026 manifestos of parties and alliances represented in Parliament.

The Forum looks forward to working with Government, Parliament and other stakeholders to support progress on these commitments and improve WASH services for all Zambians.

Note: This review covers the three 2026 manifestos available to the Forum at the time of publication.

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02/10/2026

WASH PERFORMANCE: ARE WE SUSTAINING THE PROGRESS?

Zambia made strong gains in WASH programme delivery at the start of the 8NDP, but performance declined over the following years.

The proportion of annual WASH targets fully met fell from 84.6% in 2022 to 45.5% in 2024, a decline of 39.1 percentage points. Borehole construction, hours of water supply and solid waste management were among the areas that faced challenges.

Financing also tells an important story. While WASH allocations have increased in Kwacha terms, the sector’s share of the National Budget has declined. Budget ex*****on averaged about 50% between 2021 and 2024.

As Zambia moves into the 9NDP, adequate financing must go hand in hand with timely releases and consistent implementation if progress is to be sustained.

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01/10/2026

SAFE CHLORINATION FOR SAFER DRINKING WATER

On 29 and 30 September, the Zambia NGO WASH Forum, in partnership with Africa Manzi Centre (AFMAC) and CAWST, held a two-day training workshop on Safe Chlorination for Drinking Water.

The training brought together participants from government, civil society, community-based organisations and NGOs working in WASH and community development.

Over the two days, participants strengthened their practical knowledge on drinking water quality, how chlorine works, safe handling and storage of chlorine products, chlorine demand and dosing, and the multi-barrier approach to safe drinking water.

It was an interactive and engaging learning experience, with practical exercises, group discussions and knowledge sharing giving participants an opportunity to learn from both the facilitators and each other.

Safe chlorination remains an important part of protecting drinking water and supporting cholera prevention and response.

Thank you to AFMAC, CAWST, the facilitators and everyone who participated and contributed to the discussions.

AFMAC-Seeds of Hope International Partnerships
CAWST
Chitalisano28
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01/10/2026

WASH under the 8NDP: What did the numbers show?

Between 2022 and 2024, Zambia recorded progress across several WASH targets, including borehole rehabilitation, water and sewer network expansion, institutional sanitation facilities, Open Defecation Free villages, and sanitation and hygiene promotion.

But the overall picture was mixed. The proportion of annual WASH targets fully met declined from 84.6% in 2022 to 62% in 2023 and 45.5% in 2024. Areas such as water supply hours, water quality, wastewater treatment, household sewer connections and solid waste management faced gaps in 2024.

As we look ahead to the Ninth National Development Plan, these results give us a useful picture of where progress needs to be sustained and where greater attention and investment are still needed.

The gains matter. So do the gaps. Both should inform what comes next for WASH in Zambia.

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30/09/2026

SANITATION AND HYGIENE IN ZAMBIA: PROGRESS MADE, BUT WHAT STILL NEEDS ATTENTION?

By Bubala Muyovwe Mumba, NGO WASH Forum Coordinator

Sanitation and hygiene are closely connected. Building toilets and sewer networks is important, but that is only part of the sanitation chain. Waste must also be safely collected, treated and disposed of, while good hygiene practices need to be supported in homes, schools, health facilities and communities.

This is reflected in Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP). Under Development Outcome 3 on Improved Water Supply and Sanitation, the Plan identifies infrastructure development, solid waste management, sanitation and hygiene promotion, and investment as important areas for improving sanitation services.

Zambia entered the 8NDP period with a significant rural-urban sanitation gap. In 2018, 37.2 percent of rural households had access to improved sanitation compared with 77.7 percent in urban areas. Against this baseline, the 8NDP set targets of 55 percent for rural areas and 90 percent for urban areas by 2026.

Progress worth recognising

Cumulative 8NDP progress reported through 2025 shows strong performance in several areas.

By 2025, 913 institutional sanitation facilities had been constructed against the 2026 target of 626. Sewer network expansion reached 487.24 kilometres, exceeding the target of 274 kilometres, while 49,178 household sewer connections had been made against a target of 33,600.

Progress at community level was also significant. Cumulative results through 2025 show that 15,207 villages attained Open Defecation Free status, compared with the 2026 target of 5,000. More than 4.4 million people were reached with hygiene promotion, against a target of 500,000.

These are important gains. They show that Zambia has been able to expand sanitation infrastructure and take hygiene promotion to a much wider population than initially planned. But reaching people with hygiene messages is not the end of the job. The focus must also be on sustaining good hygiene practices and ensuring that sanitation facilities are supported by systems that safely manage waste.

The gaps that still need attention

The strong results in some areas should not take attention away from parts of the sanitation chain that remain behind.

Wastewater treatment is one of the clearest gaps. Of the four wastewater treatment plants planned by 2026, only one had been constructed by 2025. None of the four plants targeted for rehabilitation had been rehabilitated.

Solid waste management also remains below target. Cumulative progress reported through 2025 shows that 10 percent of solid waste was being recycled against a target of 30 percent, while 25 percent was being disposed of in authorised facilities against a target of 50 percent.

This is where the sanitation conversation needs to go next. Zambia can continue expanding sewer networks and sanitation facilities, but those investments need functioning wastewater treatment systems behind them. In the same way, progress in hygiene promotion needs to translate into practices that are sustained beyond individual campaigns and activities.

What needs to happen next

The 8NDP recognised that financing would be central to improving water and sanitation services. It called for a sustainable financing mechanism to mobilise local and international resources and identified the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as one avenue for accelerating investment and addressing inequalities in underserved areas.

As Zambia closes the 8NDP period and prepares for the next National Development Plan, we need to protect the gains already made while directing greater attention and resources to the areas that remain behind.

Local authorities should make greater use of available financing, including CDF where applicable, to address sanitation priorities at community level, particularly solid waste management and other identified service gaps. At national level, greater investment is needed to close the gaps in wastewater treatment and rehabilitation.

Hygiene must remain part of this investment. Reaching millions of people with hygiene promotion is encouraging, but future efforts should also help us understand whether good hygiene practices are being sustained in homes, schools, health facilities and communities.

Zambia has made progress on sanitation and hygiene. The next task is to make sure that the whole system works, from sanitation facilities and hygiene practices to waste collection, treatment and safe disposal. That is how the gains made under the 8NDP can translate into cleaner communities, safer sanitation and better services for people.

Data sources: Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) 2022–2026 and Implementation Plan; Ministry of Finance and National Planning, 8NDP Annual Progress Reports, 2022–2025.

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29/09/2026

Looking Back at Zambia’s Water Supply Progress

As the 8NDP period approaches its end, how close is Zambia to meeting its 2026 water supply targets?

The progress is encouraging in some areas, but important gaps remain. By 2025, 10,213 of the targeted 16,025 boreholes had been constructed, while 11,183 of 14,125 boreholes targeted for rehabilitation had been completed.

But access is not only about infrastructure. Average water supply stood at 15.1 hours per day against a target of 23 hours, while water quality compliance was 76.2% against the 2026 target of 100%.

As Zambia prepares to transition to the 9NDP, the challenge is to close these remaining gaps while protecting the progress already made.

Swipe through to see where we stand.

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21/09/2026

QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING | STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION ACROSS THE WASH SECTOR

The NGO WASH Forum recently brought together its members for the 2nd Quarterly Review Meeting at Twalumba Resort Hotel.

The meeting provided an opportunity for members to reflect on progress, share updates from their organisations, discuss challenges and lessons learned, and look at priorities for the coming months.

Members also contributed to the development of the Forum’s Advocacy Strategy, bringing their experiences and perspectives into discussions on WASH priorities and areas where stronger collective advocacy is needed.

These quarterly meetings remain an important space for members to connect, learn from each other and strengthen coordination across the WASH sector.

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17/09/2026

WASH PROGRESS WATCH

Five years of progress, gaps and priorities for Zambia’s WASH sector.

As Zambia looks ahead to the Presidential Address to Parliament, the 2027 National
Budget and the 9NDP, the NGO WASH Forum is taking stock of where the WASH sector
stands.

Over the coming days, WASH Progress Watch will look at what has been achieved, where
gaps remain, how WASH financing has performed and what needs greater attention going
forward.

Follow the series and join the conversation on the future of WASH in Zambia.

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11/09/2026

The NGO WASH Forum brought together its members for the Advocacy Strategy Development Meeting, an important step towards shaping the Forum’s Advocacy Strategy for 2027–2031.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on past advocacy efforts, examine priority WASH challenges and agree on a shared direction for the next five years.

The discussions helped sharpen the Forum’s advocacy priorities and strengthen a collective approach to influencing policy, promoting accountability and advancing WASH outcomes in Zambia.

By bringing our voices, experience and expertise together, we strengthened the foundation for more coordinated and impactful WASH advocacy.

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Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 13:00