The Netherlands government has called for more financing in the water sector if Zambia is to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which seeks to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all.

Netherlands Ambassador Dr. Margret Verwijk said that there was a financing gap in the sector which was delaying attainment of the SDGs which focus on the sustainable management of water resources, wastewater and ecosystems, and acknowledging the importance of an enabling environment.

Dr. Verwijk was speaking at the 12^th Zambia Water Forum and Exhibition (ZAWAFE) held in Lusaka themed “Closing the Gap: Working towards attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Targets”

“There is a financing gap which is delaying attainment of SDGs in Zambia. Financing is critical in the sector and I can give an example of the Netherlands which spends 7 billion euros per year to manage water. This spending is not a luxury but a necessity,” she said.    

She said that the social, economic, environmental and political dynamics of water needed to be managed for the sector to grow.

Dr. Verwijk said that there was need to mobilize resources to ensure that Commercial Utilities had capacity to manage water supply and sanitation provision.

She said that there was need to have tariffs which do not only cover costs but also help maintain and expand infrastructure.