Zambia Secures Funds for Climate Adaptation with Commonwealth Support

Under a project being carried out by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS), created with assistance from the Commonwealth Climate Financial Access Hub, vulnerable communities in Zambia will receive crucial support to overcome water shortages brought on by climate change (CCFAH). The Global Environment Facility (GEF) authorised the project's funding in July 2022.

For the past 40 years, the nation has experienced a dramatic decline in average annual rainfall, particularly in the south where there have been numerous droughts, flash floods, and significant land degradation. The average annual temperature has climbed by 1.3°C since 1960, greatly exceeding the global average, and the amount of rain received during the rainy season has reduced by 7.1mm per ten years.

Water is becoming more and more limited, which has a direct influence on people's life and the economy, especially the agricultural industry. For example, shorter growing seasons have compelled farmers to plant earlier and more frequently.

The GEF is investing US$2 million to put up a solar-powered water delivery infrastructure that intends to enable access to safe water, enhance sanitation, irrigate farms, and provide water for livestock in order to aid communities in adapting to these conditions.

Beatrice Kanyamuna-Pole, a senior hydrogeologist in the Ministry of Water Development, said: “This project will be crucial to improving the lives and livelihoods of 85,000 people of the Nyimba and Lumezi Districts in Eastern Province, where flash flooding and episodes of drought are a part of life. Many people live in extreme poverty and do not have access to drinking water. Not only does the project envisage a reliable source of fresh water, but it will be using solar-powered water pump systems, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while building resilience.”

Beausic Chongo, the chief climate change officer at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, also recognised the work of Othniel Yila, the country's Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser, who collaborated closely with the government to draught the initial submission for GEF assistance.

"This project is a significant opportunity for the Government of Zambia to support a climate resilient future, protect its economic and social sectors from the effects of climate change, and build towards achieving Zambia's Nationally Determined Contributions and other important goals that will support this nation well into the 21st century," said Mr. Yila.

The two-year project will evaluate the availability of groundwater in a number of rural communities and increase institutional, technical, and human capacity for sustainable groundwater management while fostering an environment that will allow solar-powered water systems to function successfully and sustainably over the long term. To make it easier to replicate and scale up successful methods in the future, the project's lessons learned will also be compiled.

The Commonwealth Climate Financial Access Hub's contribution is a part of the Commonwealth Secretariat's initiatives to assist member nations in adapting to and reducing climate change. Additionally, it supports the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter, which aims to assist coordinated efforts to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.

At least 16 national and regional advisers from the CCFAH are now working in a number of different nations, and to date, they have helped governments raise more than 61 million dollars in climate funding, including 3 million dollars in co-financing.