WASH FORUM SEEKS 2.8% OF 2027 BUDGET FOR WATER AND SANITATION

(Picture By ZANIS)

By Alain Kabinda 

LUSAKA – Access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and basic hygiene remains a challenge for millions of Zambians, prompting the NGO WASH Forum to call on Government to increase funding to the sector in the 2027 National Budget.

With the national budget scheduled for presentation on October 30, the Forum wants at least 2.8 per cent of the national budget allocated to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), warning that declining financial commitments are slowing progress towards universal access to essential services.

For communities without reliable drinking water, households lacking proper sanitation and families unable to access basic handwashing facilities, the funding debate goes beyond government expenditure. It concerns public health, human dignity, environmental protection and the country's ability to build climate-resilient communities.

NGO WASH Forum National Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe Mumba said water and sanitation should be recognised as an investment in Zambia's economic development rather than merely a social-sector cost.

The Forum argues that increased funding would support the Government's Grow Zambia Agenda by improving living conditions, protecting public health and strengthening the foundations for sustainable economic growth.

The Forum says the proportion of the national budget allocated to WASH has declined from 1.81 per cent in 2021 to 1.06 per cent in 2026.

It warns that this downward trend threatens the implementation of programmes intended to expand access to safe water, sanitation infrastructure and hygiene facilities.

According to figures cited by the organisation, approximately 27 per cent of households lack basic drinking water services, while 63 per cent lack basic sanitation and 82 per cent do not have basic hygiene facilities equipped with soap and water.

Safe drinking water is fundamental to preventing waterborne diseases, while adequate sanitation helps protect communities from environmental contamination. Access to handwashing facilities, soap and water is also important in reducing the transmission of infectious diseases.

Delayed or inadequate releases can affect the implementation of infrastructure projects, procurement of materials, rehabilitation works and the delivery of services to communities.

Even where funding has been provided for in the national budget, the pace at which resources reach implementing institutions can determine whether planned activities are completed on schedule.

The Forum is therefore calling for timely disbursement of allocated funds, alongside stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that public resources deliver measurable improvements.

The concern is that insufficient funding, combined with delayed releases, could further slow progress in communities already experiencing inadequate access to water and sanitation.

While seeking an immediate increase in the 2027 National Budget, the NGO WASH Forum wants Government to adopt a longer-term financing plan that raises the sector's share to five per cent of the national budget by 2029.

She also urging the Government to prioritise the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, recognising that expanding access requires both new investments and the maintenance of facilities already in place.

The WASH funding debate also has implications for Zambia's ability to respond to climate variability and protect its water resources.

Protecting water sources, maintaining distribution systems and investing in appropriate sanitation facilities can help communities manage these challenges.

The Forum's call for increased investment therefore extends beyond expanding the number of households connected to water systems. It also concerns ensuring that infrastructure remains functional and services can be sustained over time.

However, increased allocations alone will not guarantee better outcomes. Effective planning, timely fund releases, transparent procurement, infrastructure maintenance and monitoring will remain important in ensuring that resources translate into actual services.

As Zambia prepares its 2027 National Budget, the NGO WASH Forum wants the Government to demonstrate that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is a development priority.

Its proposed allocation of at least 2.8 per cent in 2027, rising to five per cent by 2029, is intended to reverse the decline in the sector's budget share and provide a more predictable financing pathway.

The challenge for policymakers will be to balance competing national priorities while ensuring that essential services receive sufficient resources and that allocated funds are released and used effectively.

The Forum's central argument is that economic growth must be accompanied by improvements in the services that sustain everyday life.

As the budget presentation approaches, the question is whether the 2027 financial plan will provide the resources needed to accelerate progress towards safe water, adequate sanitation and basic hygiene for all Zambians.

Ultimately, the success of WASH financing will be measured not only by the percentage allocated in the national budget, but by whether more households gain reliable access to the essential services they need to live healthy and dignified lives.