Water is inextricably linked to the development of all societies and flows through the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environment. Water resources provide essential services that are among the keys to achieving poverty reduction, inclusive growth, public health, food security, dignified lives for all and long-lasting harmony with the planet’s essential ecosystems. Water is becoming increasingly scarce; the World Economic Forum ranks the water supply crisis as one of the top three global risks.  The Kafue Flats are of major ecological, industrial and socio-economic significance for Zambia.  The Kafue Flats floodplain receives water from the Kafue River when the river swells and overtops its main channel during the rainy season. These flows are supplemented by tributaries fed by local rainfall.

The story map highlights a selection of pertinent risks and opportunities within the Kafue Flats.  These risks include water use and abstraction allocations, as well as water quality or climate change impacts, and are investigated through four core narratives that highlight the systemic nature of risks within a catchment context.  It is crucial for both the private and public sectors to become more engaged in sustainable water management.  It is important to recognize that the decisions that determine how water resources are used are not made by water managers alone but by all stakeholders through concrete actions that include establishing the legal and institutional framework to ensure sustainable water management.

The Kafue Flats Status report can be downloaded here

The Water in the Zambian Economy 2nd Edition can be downloaded here