National Water Policy 2024.

This Policy brings together the water resources management and development sector and the water supply and sanitation sector to ensure integrated and effective development, management and provision of water supply and sanitation services. It also takes into account cross cutting issues such as gender and social inclusion, and climate change, among others. The Policy is aimed at ensuring national water security and universal access to sanitation. It is designed to enhance cross-sectioral water resources planning; resource mobilization; equitable water allocation; harness water resources; accelerate attainment of universal access to water supply and sanitation; enhance legal and institutional frameworks and coordination mechanisms; and promote gender and social inclusion in the water sector. The Policy is divided into Five Chapters. Chapter One is the introduction, Chapter Two is the situation analysis, providing the background, status and challenges of the Water Sector in Zambia. Chapter Three, is about the vision, rationale and guiding principles. Chapter Four outlines the objectives of the Policy and measures to be employed in the implementation of the Policy. Chapter Five highlights the implementation framework providing insight into the institutional arrangement, legal framework and resource mobilisation, as well as monitoring and evaluation.
Important issues addressed by this Policy include achievement of universal access to water supply and sanitation; inadequate climate resilient water harvesting infrastructure; inadequate framework for rainwater harvesting; inadequate groundwater exploration and aquifer mapping; climate change adaptation; inadequate transboundary and international water cooperation; need for legislative and structural reforms; alignment from Millenium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals; financial viability of water supply and sanitation utilities; inadequate public-private partnerships; and exploration of innovative and alternative water sector financing, among others. Other key aspects of the Policy include the need to attain universal coverage of basic water and sanitation; conservation, protection and restoration of water sources and associated ecosystems; harnessing water resources; improving access to water for socio-economic development; enhancing public-private partnerships; and enhancing resource mobilization for water and sanitation interventions. In addition, the Policy seeks to promote gender equality and social inclusion in the water sector as well as build climate resilience interventions and investments.
The Policy sets out objectives and specific measures for Water Resources Planning and Management, Urban Hydrology, Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Water Resources Development, Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, Water and Environment, Water for Socio-Economic Development, Research and Training, Cross-Cutting Issues, and Water Sector Financing.