Nigeria learns how Zambia has reformed its water and sanitation sector
A twenty-three member delegation from Bauchi State in Nigeria was in Zambia from 18thto 20th March 2012 for a learning visit on water and sanitation reforms.
The delegation with representation from different ministries and institutions among others, Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, State Water Board, House of Assembly, Ministry of Justice, Office of Head of Service, Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa (SUWASA) and USAID were in the country to learn how Zambia has reformed its water and sanitation sub-sector.
Zambia is one of the leading countries on the African continent in the reformation of the water sector.
The institutions visited by the Nigerian delegation whilst in Zambia included the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Ministry of Local government and housing, National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO), the Devolution Trust Fund (DTF) and Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company.
Other places visited were Kanyama and Chongwe to appreciate the prepaid water kiosks and the newly constructed modular water treatment plant respectively.
In its quest to reform the water sub-sector, Bauchi state with a population of 5.4 million people envisions to align operational activities of its water board to the outcomes of the national strategy on improving access to water and sanitation including Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation.
Unlike Zambia which has an autonomous water and sanitation Regulator, Bauchi state’s Water policy is currently not supported with a regulatory arm independent of the state and the water board has not been given financial, management and operational autonomy.
With identified key challenges and issues of service delivery from different perspectives including policy, institutional, legal, funding as well as operations, it is hoped that the learning visit would assist as Bauchi State embarks on reforming its water and sanitation subsector.
