An Expert, Edward Musosa, has emphasized that the comprehensive review of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, as part of the 8th National Development Plan (NDP), will help the government ensure that resources are effectively utilized to meet the needs of all.
The review is being conducted by the Zambia NGO WASH Forum, supported by the Danish People’s Aid through the ‘Civil Society Action for Improved WASH Services in East and Southern Africa’ Programme.
Mr. Musosa stated that the review aims to assess the effectiveness, sustainability, and integration of key themes within the WASH sector from 2022 to mid-2024.
He said it will analyze the performance of WASH programs in achieving their annual targets for the years 2022, 2023, and the first half of 2024, providing insights into the progress made and areas needing improvement.
Mr Musosa added that an assessment will be conducted on the sustainability of interventions, results, and institutions within the WASH sector to determine the long-term viability of current initiatives.
He stated that the coordination of WASH efforts during the 2023/2024 cholera and drought humanitarian situations in Zambia will be reviewed.
Mr Musosa asserted that the impact of Zambia’s public debt situation on funding for WASH programs between 2022 and 2024 will also be analyzed.
“The review will formulate stakeholder-led recommendations and interventions to enhance the WASH sector’s performance. These recommendations will be part of the 8NDP Mid-Term Review and will inform the analysis of the 2025 National Budget and the preparation of the next NDP. Actionable insights for policymakers and lawmakers will be provided for the analysis of the 2025 National Budget, implementation of the 8th NDP, and formulation of the 9th NDP,” he said.
And Bridget Nzazi, a World Vision Institutional Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist and a Forum Member
said she was happy to note that the review examine how gender and social inclusion have been integrated into WASH sector annual budgeting between 2022 and 2024.
This is contained in a statement issued by Zambia NGO WASH Forum National Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe-Mumba.
