Bridging the Equity Gap in Zambia’s WASH Sector
In the Zambian Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, equity and equality are critical for ensuring that all citizens have access to clean water, adequate sanitation facilities, and hygiene education, regardless of their socioeconomic status, location, or other demographics. While these terms may sound similar, the implementation of one versus the other can lead to dramatically different outcomes for marginalized communities.
Equity in the WASH Sector: Addressing Disparities
Equity in the Zambian WASH sector pertains to fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and services. It recognizes that different communities and individuals have varying needs and capacities, and aims to address disparities by prioritizing those who are marginalized or disadvantaged. Equity is frequently linked with inclusion, which means the process of including these marginalized and underserved communities within, and not separate from, society. For WASH, it means considering the needs of these groups at all stages of programming, from planning to evaluation.
Equity and inclusion are particularly important in the WASH sector because certain groups, such as older people, individuals with disabilities, and women and girls, have frequently been neglected in the past. It is essential that stakeholders with responsibility for planning and implementation recognize these varying needs and ensure that no individual or community is overlooked.
Equality: Ensuring Universal Access
In contrast, equality in the WASH sector focuses on ensuring that everyone, irrespective of their background, has equal access to WASH services and opportunities. This includes addressing the disproportionate responsibility that women and girls bear as primary users, providers, and managers of water, sanitation, and hygiene at the household level, and ensuring that their participation in water governance and the promotion of safe sanitation translates into better services for themselves.
Uneven Distribution of WASH Resources and Services
One of the key issues affecting equity in the Zambian WASH sector is the uneven distribution of resources and services between urban and rural areas. Urban centers generally receive more attention and investment, resulting in better infrastructure and higher access rates compared to rural communities. This disparity exacerbates existing inequalities and perpetuates the cycle of poverty and disease in rural areas. Furthermore, within rural communities, certain groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly often face additional barriers to accessing WASH services due to gender norms and cultural practices.
Strategies for Achieving Inclusive WASH Interventions
To address the challenges in the Zambian WASH sector and ensure equitable and inclusive access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, a holistic approach is required. This approach should prioritize the following strategies:
Community Participation and Empowerment
Engaging communities, especially marginalized groups, in the design, implementation, and monitoring of WASH interventions empowers them to take ownership of the initiatives and ensures that their voices are heard. By actively involving communities in decision-making processes, empowering marginalized groups, promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building, fostering sustainability, and advocating for their rights, communities can contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable WASH systems that benefit all individuals and communities equally.
Targeted Interventions
Tailoring WASH interventions to address the specific needs and priorities of different communities, considering factors such as geography, culture, and socioeconomic status, can help bridge the equity gap and promote inclusivity. For example, the Zambian government’s directive in 2023 to build only waterborne sanitation facilities and piped water schemes in public institutions like schools, health facilities, and markets is a positive step forward. However, it is essential that this directive is supported by efforts to enhance the entire WASH value chain, as well as by gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) mainstreaming in WASH programming.
Climate-Smart Investments and Funding
Increasing investment in rural infrastructure development, including the construction of boreholes, piped water systems, and improved sanitation facilities, is crucial for expanding access to WASH services in underserved areas. Ensuring equity in funding is not only the responsibility of the central government, but also the responsibility of various stakeholders and international partners. Addressing the gap in WASH funding is not only a moral imperative but also a matter of economic and social justice. The increased allocation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) offers a great opportunity to leverage on in increasing resources towards WASH, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, including rural growth centers.
Social and Behavior Change (SBC)
SBC strategies are pivotal in enhancing equity and equality within WASH endeavors in Zambia. These approaches tackle behavioral barriers, foster inclusivity, and empower marginalized communities. By promoting hygiene education and behavior change communication initiatives, awareness regarding the significance of clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene practices is raised, resulting in improved health outcomes and a reduced disease burden. SBC interventions are integral in championing equity and equality within WASH initiatives in Zambia through addressing behavioral barriers, fostering inclusivity, empowering communities, ensuring sustainability, and advocating for policy changes prioritizing marginalized populations.
Policy Reform
Advocating for policy reforms that prioritize equity and equality in the allocation of WASH resources and the implementation of regulatory frameworks strengthens the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to WASH services. By addressing resource allocation, legal frameworks, decision-making processes, financial mechanisms, regulatory oversight, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation, reforms can help create an enabling environment for the equitable and inclusive delivery of WASH services to all Zambians.
Collaborative Efforts for Water Justice
Achieving equity and equality in the Zambian WASH sector demands collaborative efforts from the government, civil society, and the private sector. By prioritizing the needs of marginalized communities, promoting inclusive decision-making processes, and investing in sustainable infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives, Zambia can progress towards its goal of ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for all its citizens.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that achieving universal access to WASH services in Zambia entails addressing underlying inequalities and barriers that hinder certain groups from accessing these vital resources. Therefore, a combination of equality and equity approaches may be necessary to effectively address the challenges in the Zambian WASH sector and guarantee that all individuals and communities can exercise their right to clean water and sanitation.
