WASH Forum Wants Government To Increase Budget Allocation To WASH Sector in 2025

Zambia NGO WASH Forum, has urged Government to significantly increase the budget allocation to the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector for the year 2025, as Finance Minister prepares to present the national budget this Friday.

Forum Coordinator Bubala Mumba has emphasized the need for dedicated funding to fully implement the Multi-sectoral Cholera Elimination Plan, which requires a minimum of US$19.87 million over the next five years to eradicate cholera by 2030.

Ms. Mumba says the WASH sector is critical to Zambia’s public health, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability.

She notes that despite its importance, the sector has faced declining budget allocations in recent years, which has hindered progress towards achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation.

Ms. Mumba observes that the sector has over the last 5 years only been allocated less than two percent of the national budget, averaging less than K2 Billion.

She says the country’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) WASH costs are however, estimated at an annual average of over K3 billion.

She has stressed the need for a substantial increase in the WASH budget to address the pressing needs of the sector, which include funding for the construction and rehabilitation of water supply systems, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion programs.