Zambia - Integrated Water Management to increase Climate Resilience in Zambia’s Southern Province

Country / Region: Zambia / Africa

Begin of project: June 1, 2024

End of project: May 31, 2028

Status of project: May 7, 2024

German Federal President Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeiner (centre) visited Zambia's Water Minister Mike Mphosha (3rd from right) to find out about the current challenges in the water sector Source: BGR

Climate projections indicate that the average annual temperature in Zambia will rise by 1.9°C by 2050 and by 2.3°C by 2100, with decreasing rainfall.

The availability of drinking water, particularly for the poorer sections of the population in Zambia's already drought-prone Southern Province, is increasingly jeopardised by very strong population growth. The rapidly growing provincial capital of Choma is currently supplied with drinking water mainly from surface water.

The project aims to make the water supply in the region more climate-resilient by improving the technical and institutional conditions, as well as preventative planning of groundwater management for a secure water supply.

Specifically, specialised technical advice supports the formation of networks at district and provincial level in coordination with the national level. In this way, short- and medium-term capacities for early warning and mitigation in the event of water shortages are built up. In the long term, the partners are able to implement a strategic assessment and development of groundwater resources.