Sanitation committees ( SMC ) has been key . One of the women , Melita , , has lived in the Chamanculo C bairro since birth and has had to live with the problems caused by poor sanitation . When Melita and her neighbours applied for a new sanitation block , Melita decided to become the Vice- President of the SMC . Melita notes : “ My role has always been to mobilize people to help solve our toilet problem and fortunately , perhaps because of the suffering we were experiencing , the people in this group contributed in good time and , much sooner than we imagined , we received the great ‘ Blessing ’ of our lives !”
The Maputo Municipal Council ( MMC ) is optimistic but recognizes that there is a long road ahead to achieve universal sanitation coverage in the city . There are encouraging signs that the improvements in the enabling environment is helping to trigger more investment , including by the World Bank , bilateral donors and international NGOs .
Despite some doubt from stakeholders at the start of the program , as it draws to a close , they have renewed confidence that shared facilities can help the city of Maputo reach its goal of universal access . Not only has the program strengthened MMC ’ s commitment to shared sanitation but it has also built the council ’ s capacity to support sustainable citywide services in the future .
About the Author
Following eight years as Programme Director for two country programmes , Baghi now leads WSUP ’ s work in mobilising and supporting investments in WASH . A chartered civil engineer and water resources expert , Baghi previously worked for a major UK consultancy accumulating over three decades ’ experience in programme , organisational and financial management . As Project Director and Regional Director he successfully led major development projects in developing countries , including in water and sanitation .
Designing , Testing & implementing improvements to sanitation & water supply
Lusaka is the capital and largest city in Zambia , and one of the fastest developing cities in Africa . It is home to nearly 2.4 million people , with around 65 % living in low-income communities .
Access to improved sanitation in the city has actually fallen over the last 15 years and nearly half the population has no access at all .
Most of those living in low-income communities lack access to sewers , so residents use pit latrines and septic tanks . If these aren ’ t emptied regularly then waste flows into the groundwater which contaminates the environment and nearby water supplies .
Challenges to improving water and sanitation services in Lusaka include problems with infrastructure , as supply of basic services struggle to keep up with demand . Other challenges include water loss , limited investments and risks to groundwater in the city .
What are we doing to help ?
Since 2008 , Water & Sanitation for Urban Poor ( WSUP ) have been working with the city ’ s water utility , the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company ( LWSC ), to manage water and sanitation services for low-income residents .
Through this , water supply networks have been extended in many low-income communities including Chainda , Chazanga , Bauleni , Linda , Kanyama , Mtendere East , John Laing and Msisi . We ’ ve achieved this by supporting the transformation of LWSC ’ s business model to include the community-based management of water supplies in each district .
In Kanyama and Chazanga in particular , we ’ ve provided technical assistance to LWSC to develop business models that are designed to be managed by communitybased water trusts and are economically and environmentally sustainable . With LWSC providing the overall management , these community-based models are promoting the uptake of services in low-income communities .
Supporting investment through the Lusaka Sanitation Programme
Water & Sanitation for Urban Poor ( WSUP ) are working with LWSC on the US $ 180 million Lusaka Sanitation Programme . The pit-emptying service we ’ ve developed with LWSC forms the basis for on-site sanitation services that will be scaled up under this programme . We ’ re also working with LWSC to establish a toilet database , keeping record of where toilets in Lusaka ’ s low-income communities are , how full they are and when they need emptying . This will also make it easier to scale up pitemptying businesses . Improving access to water Working with LWSC , we ’ ve helped 300,000 low-income communities across Lusaka access safe , affordable water services by providing communal water kiosks , pre-paid dispensers , and public standpipes . This has been achieved by setting up agreements that allow community-based water trusts to provide services on behalf of the city utility . By working with LWSC and its delegated managers , the water trusts , we ’ ve strengthened the quality of services provided to low-income customers .
Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • September 2018 15