Assessing the potential for self-supply in Zambia

The Millennium Development Goal target for safe water supply is currently unlikely to be met in Zambia. In order to serve the population that is unlikely to be reached under conventional communitybased water supply programmes, alternative approaches to water supply service provision need to be explored. One such alternative is the SelfSupply approach which encourages households to develop and improve their own infrastructure incrementally. However, to ensure the actualisation of such an approach an enabling environment needs to be created that includes enabling policies, sufficient private sector capacity, access to appropriate technologies and technical advice, and effective financial mechanisms and markets. Drawing on the findings of a baseline survey in Luapula province it is concluded that there is significant potential for SelfSupply in Zambia and that an enabling environment largely exists. There is a need, however, to develop effective microcredit facilities that are accessible to rural households.