MCA grants US$288, 000 for Mandevu sanitation project

Wed, 03 May 2017 10:42:56 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

THE Water and Sanitation Association of Zambia (WASAZA) has received a US$ 288, 000 grant from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) to implement a sanitation project in Lusaka’s Mandevu compound.

According to MCA communication and outreach manager John Kunda, the project would provide flush bio-latrines and hand washing for 8 community schools in the area.

Dr. Kunda stated in a presentation that the project aimed to reach 4, 500 direct and 16, 096 indirect beneficiaries in Mandevu.

He explained that the bio-latrines would have drop holes located above the inlet of a biogas digester, therefore, minimizing blockage risks and pit emptying challenges.

Dr. Kunda said that the project would provide primary treatment for sanitary waste and produce biogas which would be sold to nearby street vendors.

“The project will provide flush bio-latrines and hand washing for 8 community schools in the area. Bio-latrines are toilets with drop- holes above the inlet of a biogas digester, thereby minimising blockage risks and pit emptying challenges,” he said.

Dr. Kunda also explained that project activities for each of the community schools to be supported would include health and hygiene education, menstrual health management, and operations and maintenance training.

Meanwhile, the United States of America funded MCA has introduced the Innovation Grant Program for Pro-Poor Service Delivery.

Dr. Kunda pointed out that the competitive grant and partnership program was being implemented by 9 grantees with the grant amount of US$ 3 million.

He said that innovation grant program was one of the institutional support activities of the Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation, and Drainage Project (LWSSDP) under the MCA.

Dr. Kunda explained that the grantees would implement projects in solid waste, sanitation and hygiene in selected compounds of the city.