Reducing malnutrition by improving water and sanitation in rural areas in Zambia

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The project is financed with funds from the BMZ and implemented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The aim of the project is to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services for the predominantly poor and malnourished rural population in six districts in the Luapula province in Zambia. Access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities, combined with adequate hygiene, are key factors in reducing malnutrition, child morbidity/mortality (especially due to gastrointestinal infections) and overall contribute to the prevention of water-induced diseases. In addition, the project contributes to reducing the burden on women and girls from water extraction and to basic education and gender equality. In addition to its importance for achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 (availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all), the project makes a general contribution to poverty reduction (SDG 1 - overcoming extreme poverty), gender equality (SDG 5) and food security (SDG 2 and in particular 2.2 - overcoming malnutrition). By building the water and sanitation infrastructure, around 200,000 poor people will have improved access to safe drinking water and around 100,000 to adequate sanitation. An awareness-raising campaign is intended to help raise awareness and promote hygiene-conscious behavior. In addition, the water and sanitation infrastructure for 50 schools and 20 health centers is to be improved. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). To prevent and combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the project has been supplemented with a Covid-19 component that has an impact nationwide.