Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation

What Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation does

The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS) is a cabinet-level government ministry of the Republic of Zambia, established in 2021 under Gazette Notice No. 1123 of 2021, headquartered in Lusaka with approximately 70 employees. It holds statutory mandate under the Water Resources Management Act and the Water Supply and Sanitation Act to develop and manage the country's water resources and to facilitate the provision of water supply and sanitation services. The Ministry discharges its mandate through three coordinated tiers: (i) policy and regulation, working with WARMA (water resource management) and NWASCO (service delivery standards); (ii) infrastructure delivery, executing flagship programmes such as the 60 Dams Project, ZWSSGC (US$33M World Bank), the Lusaka Sanitation Programme (US$300M), the Kafulafuta Water Supply and Sanitation System Project (US$449M, completed 2023), and the Lusaka City Water Supply Improvement Project (US$360M in discussion with JICA/AfDB); and (iii) service delivery through eleven Water Utility Companies across all ten provinces, including LWSC, KWSC, Kafubu-WSC, Luapula-WSSC, NWWSC, and WWSC.

The Ministry's core service lines are water resources management, water supply development, sanitation and hygiene, climate change and environmental services, and emergency response. Technical assets include SCADA and GIS for network monitoring, gravity-flow water supply systems (e.g., the 25-km Luapula system), solar-powered borehole pumps capable of 120 m lift, automated groundwater monitoring boreholes, and a public Water Quality Monitoring Map. Notable infrastructure under delivery or recently completed includes ten dams across Copperbelt, Southern, Eastern and North-Western provinces, the Chiparamba Aquifer Mapping project, 155 rural primary-school sanitation facilities, the UTH water reticulation upgrade (ZMW 69.7M), and the Mwenzo, Kazungula, Amose, Chongwe and Lundazi projects.

Revenue is non-commercial in nature and flows from three streams: national budget allocations from the Government of the Republic of Zambia; bilateral and multilateral development cooperation (World Bank, AfDB, EU, KfW/GIZ, JICA, SADC-GMI, UNICEF, WaterAid); and regulated water tariffs collected at the utility level under NWASCO oversight. The Ministry's go-to-market is direct-to-citizen, mediated by the 11 Commercial Utilities and provincial/district offices, with engagement channels including a public website, citizen support and grievance redress portals (including a KoBoToolbox-based GRM for ZWSSGC), the annual ZAWAFE forum, international observance days, and international policy forums such as UN Water and the Dushanbe process.

Name

Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation

Legal name

Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation

Website

https://mwds.gov.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS) is Zambia's cabinet-level government ministry that formulates water sector policy, regulates water resources and sanitation standards, and delivers multi-hundred-million-dollar infrastructure programmes (60 Dams, ZWSSGC, Lusaka Sanitation) through eleven Water Utility Companies serving all ten provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Water Supply and Sanitation Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation) (BPAIAJAE), Water Source Development & Conveyance (Intakes, Canals, Pipelines) (AFACAFAH)

Keywords

• Water supply services
• Sanitation infrastructure
• Water resources management
• Government water ministry
• WASH programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: The Ministry operates as a government ministry funded primarily through national budget allocations from the Government of the Republic of Zambia. Funding is directed toward water infrastructure development, sanitation programs, and operational expenses.
2. International Development Cooperation: The Ministry secures funding through bilateral and multilateral development partnerships. Examples include €36 million from Germany for 2027-2028 cooperation, World Bank financing for programs like ZWSSGC (US$33 million), and co-financing from AfDB, EU, and KfW for the Lusaka Sanitation Programme (US$300 million).
3. Water Tariffs (through Utility Companies): Water utility companies collect tariffs from consumers for water supply and sanitation services, regulated by NWASCO. Revenue supports operational costs and infrastructure maintenance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation is a Zambian cabinet-level government ministry that develops and manages national water resources and facilitates water supply and sanitation services across Zambia's 10 provinces. It delivers core services including water supply, sanitation and hygiene, water resources management, water sector policy and planning, climate change and environmental services, and emergency response. Its portfolio includes flagship programmes such as the 60 Dams Project, the Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Growth Centres Programme (ZWSSGC), the Lusaka Sanitation Programme, and the Kafulafuta Water Supply and Sanitation System Project, delivered through 11 Water Utility Companies and in collaboration with regulators WARMA and NWASCO.

Product overview

The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation is a government ministry that does not offer a unified software product but rather delivers a broad portfolio of water and sanitation infrastructure programmes and services across Zambia. Its core offerings include the Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Growth Centres Programme (ZWSSGC) — a multi-component programme with Programme for Results (PforR) and Investment Project Financing (IPF) sub-components funded by the World Bank; the 60 Dams Project encompassing dam construction and rehabilitation across the country; sanitation infrastructure programmes including the Lusaka Sanitation Programme (US$300M) and Construction of 155 Water Borne Sanitation Facilities; water supply improvement projects such as the Lusaka City Water Supply Improvement Project (US$360M) and the Kafulafuta Water Supply and Sanitation System Project (KWSIP); and digital tools including a Water Quality Monitoring Map and a Grievance Redress Mechanism Web Portal. The Ministry also provides regulatory and operational services including water resources management, water supply development, sanitation and hygiene services, climate change and environmental services, and emergency response. The Ministry collaborates with eleven Water Utility Companies, regulators WARMA and NWASCO, and development partners including the World Bank, AfDB, GIZ, UNICEF, and JICA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Growth Centres Programme (ZWSSGC)
• 60 Dams Project
• Lusaka Sanitation Programme
• Lusaka City Water Supply Improvement Project
• Kafulafuta Water Supply and Sanitation System Project (KWSIP)
• Construction of 155 Water Borne Sanitation Facilities
• Water Supply Development Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 99,800 people directly benefiting from ZWSSGC programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023SADC-GMI provides grant funding of USD 160,046 for Chiparamba Aquifer Mapping project in Kasenengwa District and USD 137,500 for Groundwater Mapping in Kazungula District.
• UNICEF ZambiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF partners with the Ministry on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) initiatives, including co-organizing Global Handwashing Day events and supporting hygiene programs.
• GIZ (German Development Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ is listed as a partner organization supporting the Ministry's water sector development initiatives.
• WaterAidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterAid partners with the Ministry on WASH initiatives, including co-organizing Global Handwashing Day events.
• Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA)coreOthersWARMA is the regulatory authority responsible for safeguarding and managing the country's water resources. The Ministry collaborates closely with WARMA under the Water Resources Management Act.
• National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO)coreOthersNWASCO ensures high standards of service delivery across the water and sanitation sector. The Ministry collaborates with NWASCO for regulatory oversight of Commercial Utilities.
• Eleven Water Utility CompaniescoreOthers11 Water Utility Companies nationwide including LWSC, KWSC, Luapula-WSSC, NWWSC, WWSC, Chambeshi-WSSC, Southern-WASCO, Eastern-WASCO, Kafubu-WSC, Lukanga-WSC, and Mulonga-WSC deliver water and sanitation services.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (Nigeria): Nigeria's federal ministry responsible for water resources and sanitation policy, large dam construction, and irrigation. Comparable institutional role and capital-intensive infrastructure mandate in a developing African economy.
• Department of Water and Sanitation (South Africa): South Africa's national water and sanitation ministry/agency responsible for water resource management, regulation, and service delivery oversight. Closely comparable mandate to MWDS at a larger national scale.
• Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation (Kenya): Kenya's national water ministry combining water resources, sanitation, and irrigation mandates. Highly comparable scope to MWDS, including multi-purpose dams, donor-financed programmes, and utility regulation.
• Ministry of Water and Sanitation (Malawi): Malawi's national ministry with an almost identical name and mandate. Highly comparable as a smaller Southern African neighbour facing similar donor-dependency, utility performance, and rural access challenges.
• Ministry of Water and Environment (Uganda): Uganda's national ministry overseeing water resources, sanitation, and environment. Comparable mandate and structure, with similar rural water supply and urban utility oversight functions.
• Ministry of Water and Energy (Ethiopia): Ethiopia's ministry responsible for water and energy infrastructure, including large dam construction programmes. Comparable in executing major multi-purpose dam projects at scale in the region.
• Ministry of Water (Tanzania): Tanzania's national ministry overseeing water resources management and rural water supply. Direct counterpart with overlapping responsibilities in water resources governance, donor-funded programmes, and utility oversight in a similar East/Southern African context.

Others

• WaterAid: International WASH-focused NGO partnering with MWDS on WASH initiatives and joint events. Ecosystem partner rather than a peer ministry, but highly relevant as an adjacent WASH actor.
• UNICEF WASH Programme: UNICEF's global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme, which partners directly with MWDS on hygiene promotion, Global Handwashing Day, and rural WASH initiatives. Strategic development partner rather than a competing entity.

Regional players

• SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI): SADC regional body providing grant funding and technical assistance for groundwater mapping projects across Southern Africa, including in Zambia (Kazungula, Kasenengwa). Operates in the same space but at regional, not national, level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-water-development-and-sanitation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation