2009年-世界发展银行全球_Managing_Water_for_Sustainable_Growth_and_Poverty_Reduction___A_Country_Water_Resources_Assistance_Strategy_for_Zambia_92页_4mb

Zambia: Managing Water for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction

Core Content

This document outlines the Country Water Resources Assistance Strategy (CWRAS) for Zambia, focusing on the role of water in the country's development and the strategic interventions required to manage water resources for sustainable growth and poverty reduction. It highlights the importance of water in key economic sectors such as agriculture, energy, mining, and tourism, and addresses the challenges of water scarcity, variability, and quality.

Main Points

Water Resources Overview

• Abundance: Zambia is well-endowed with water, with a per capita renewable water resource of approximately 8,700 m³ per year, higher than the Sub-Saharan African average (7,000 m³) and the global average (8,210 m³).
• Variability: Water availability is highly variable spatially, seasonally, and annually, leading to recurrent "water shocks" such as droughts and floods.
• Climate Change Impact: Climate models predict increasing temperatures, longer dry periods, more intense rainfall, and increased storm events, which will further challenge water management.
• Transboundary Context: Zambia lies within the catchments of the Zambezi and Congo rivers, sharing water with downstream and parallel riparian countries. However, the legal framework lacks provisions for managing shared waters, particularly in the Zambezi and Luapula rivers.

Economic Role of Water

• Water Scarcity: Despite abundance, access is limited due to human, institutional, and financial constraints, creating economic scarcity.
• Impact on Sectors:
  • Agriculture: Rainfall variability reduces agricultural growth by one percentage point annually.
  • Hydropower: 96% of the installed capacity is located in the Kafue/Zambezi region, making the economy vulnerable to climate change.
  • Tourism: Nature-based tourism is vital, with protected wetlands and wildlife contributing between 6-10% to GDP.
  • Poverty Reduction: Water scarcity and variability negatively affect poverty, with potential to keep 300,000 more Zambians in poverty over the next decade.

Key Challenges

• Environmental Degradation: Poor water quality in the Copperbelt poses health risks and limits productive use.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Water supply and sanitation access is low, especially in rural areas (37% coverage).
• Irrigation: Only 5% of arable land is under irrigation, limiting agricultural productivity.
• Hydropower Potential: Only 27% of the estimated 6,000 MW hydropower potential is currently utilized.

Priority Responses

The CWRAS outlines several key priority areas for water resource management and development:

1. Consolidation of Reform and International Water Management

• Implement a modern, integrated approach to water resource development and management.
• Finalize legal and policy reforms to support international cooperation and transboundary water management.
• Engage in political dialogue to ensure strong national leadership and awareness in international water engagement.

2. Water Resources Planning and Development

• Revise integrated river basin planning to guide future water resource development.
• Develop a comprehensive system for assessing and allocating water rights, considering economic and environmental criteria.
• Conduct further studies to determine the capacity of the system to support increased water allocations.

3. Development of an Infrastructure Platform

• Reassess and prioritize infrastructure projects outlined in the 1995 National Water Resources Master Plan.
• Support feasibility studies for new projects, including the Itezhi Tezhi Dam.
• Explore options to increase storage capacity to enhance irrigation and power generation.

4. Small-Scale Multi-Purpose Water Development

• Invest in small-scale water storage projects to improve rural livelihoods, increase resilience, and promote diversification.
• Improve water supply and sanitation in rural areas, access to electricity, and irrigation services.
• Develop aquaculture and livestock watering opportunities in rural regions.

5. Protection and Development of Water Supplies

• Develop alternative water sources for at-risk town supplies, particularly shifting from contaminated surface water to protected groundwater.
• Continue remedial works on tailings dams and mining waste heaps to prevent contamination.
• Explore afforestation initiatives for carbon credits as an innovative funding source for environmental restoration.

6. Water Resources Assessment and Scientific Services

• Establish a reliable data network to support informed decision-making in water investments.
• Enhance scientific capacity for water quality analysis and related services.
• Support ongoing groundwater mapping and hydrogeological assessments in the Copperbelt, Mpongwe, and Mumbwa areas.
• Upgrade the national water laboratory to improve monitoring and data management.

Key Information

• Water Shocks: Droughts and floods have caused significant economic losses, estimated at US$13.8 billion between 1977 and 2007.
• Economic Impacts: Rainfall variability is projected to reduce GDP growth by 0.9 percentage points and cost US$7.1 billion in foregone GDP over the next decade.
• Poverty Link: Rainfall variability could keep 300,000 more Zambians in poverty.
• Kafue Basin: Home to 40% of the population, most mining activity, and 80% of the country's irrigated areas.
• Unaccounted for Water: Commercial utilities in the upper Kafue catchment lose around 47% of water, costing US$50 million annually.
• Water Supply Deficit: The aggregated operating deficit for commercial utilities was US$7.7 million in 2007.

Conclusion

The CWRAS emphasizes the need for a coordinated and sustainable approach to water management in Zambia. It identifies key areas for investment and policy reform to ensure that water resources are effectively managed to support economic growth, reduce poverty, and protect the environment. The strategy serves as a framework for the World Bank and the Government of Zambia to prioritize and implement water-related projects over the next three to five years.