Developing an enabling environment

Rural Water for Health Project assists local communities in three districts in North Western Province of Zambia to improve their own water facilities through the implementation of shallow wells. The Project which originated as the Drought Contingency Project in the mid eighties (1985) is now in its third and final phase (July 1996 - December 1999). It is operating directly under the Provincial Water Engineer in Department of Water Affairs, and receives substantial contributions from the Netherlands Government (DGIS) with technical assistance from SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation). The Department of Water Affairs has attached technical staff, while both Ministry of Health and Department of Community Development have attached staff, in particular to strengthen the training of communities (software), these interventions are a prerequisite for implementation and future sustainability of water facilities.