25 April 2013: The World Bank has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of US$50 million to support the Zambia Water Resources Development Project, which aims to improve water resources management, with a focus on rural areas, while supporting Zambia’s 2011 Water Resources Management Act.

According to the World Bank, the project will finance the rehabilitation of existing dams and the construction of new water infrastructure for rural communities suffering from drought, flooding, and seasonal water shortages, which are estimated to cost the country’s economy up to US$13.8 billion.

The World Bank assistance will be used to build small-scale water infrastructure, such as small dams and gabions, establish flood warning systems, and improve hydro-meteorological and groundwater monitoring networks. [World Bank Press Release] [Zambia Water Resources Management Act]