"Lilongwe City faces considerable water security challenges that must be addressed urgently to serve the growing population and enhance economic activities in the capital"
Lilongwe's population of one million are currently struggling with inadequate water and sanitation facilities. Rapid urbanisation is leaving the city unable to meet growing demands, resulting in many using unsafe water supplies. 95% of Lilongwe's population is currently not connected to a sewer system, leaving many having their waste collected as illustrated in figure 1.
Figure 1: Waste collection in Lilongwe
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| Source: https://www.dutchwatersector.com/news-events/news/14840-vei-extends-water-operator-partnership-with-lilongwe-water-board-malawi.html |
Scrolling through the news I found a very promising story for Malawi's capital city, Lilongwe. On the 20th December, the World Bank approved a US$100 million investment into the capital city's water and sanitation facilities. The World Bank is investing in a six-year-long scheme called Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project (LWSP).
Lilongwe's existing water and sanitation systems are under great pressure as a result of rapid urbanisation into the capital city. The LWSP is not only going to improve existing infrastructure but also expand the network, which involves increasing the distribution network by 186km to parts of the city which are currently un-piped. Currently, only 5% of Lilongwe's population is served by a sewer system, consisting of a mix of latrines and septic tanks. The LWSP aims to improve sanitation facilities for 250,000 people in Lilongwe, these are just a few of the key changes being made in Lilongwe:
- Construction of four storage reservoirs with a combined capacity of 2,600m3.
- Reducing the amount of water lost due to leakages.
- Installation of 5000 new sewer connections.
- Construction of 8000 improved sanitation facilities.
- Upgrading the existing Kauma sewage system.
- Improving sanitation facilities in 10 schools.
- Corruption and fraud
- Limited experience - The Lilongwe Water Board has limited experience in managing complex infrastructural projects, meaning there is a high risk involved with the deliverance of this project.
- Social risks - The project is expected to disturb settlements, however, there has been no mention as to whether these people will be re-housed, and so there are negative social implications of completing this project.
- Climatic risks - Lilongwe in recent years has been experiencing difficulties with unpredictable rainfall and droughts as a result of global warming, which has reduced the amount of water available for extraction. This creates large issues for the future of Lilongwe and Malawi as it appears that water stress conditions are likely to get worse.
Despite the risks I have mentioned this investment is a great step forward for Lilongwe, and I hope investments like this continue throughout the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, inching the continent ever closer to good quality water and sanitation for all.
If you wish to have a more in-depth knowledge of the Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project here is the recently published World Bank Report:
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/419171513998119839/pdf/MALAWI-PAD-12012017.pdf
Hi Louise. Nice post; this is very promising news for Lilonwge. After reading the World Bank publication you have suggested, the issue of corruption and fraud is highlighted. Additionally, it states the project is also significantly exposed to exogenous climate risks. However, for each risk there are mitigation practices which will come into place, limiting these potential threats. These mitigation strategies, I believe, are key to whether this project succeeds or not. Would you agree that even though this project is primarily a good thing, we still cannot ignore the significant risk that comes with it?
ReplyDeleteHi Bailey,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, I foolishly overlooked the risks of the investment and tried to focus on the positives. But you're right there are high risks with this investment. It is clear to see that the World Bank are expecting things not to go as planned in Lilongwe, as on page 4 of the report they have rated the project as having a substantial risk involved. Despite this risk I believe the investment is going ahead due to the desperate need, which outweighs the risk. Lilongwe is urbanising, although at a slower rate than one might assume, if the investment in water and sanitation facilities is not done in the near future this will further exacerbate issues in the long run. Sometimes in scenarios like Lilongwe I believe the success of the project far outweighs the associated risks of corruption and fraud like you mentioned. One does truly hope that the World Bank and LWSP have exhaustively planned for every eventuality, therefore allowing the delivery of this project to its highest capabilities. We will have to keep an eye on Lilongwe over the next 6 years to see how successful the project turns out to be.
Thanks,
Louise