In Zambia, many groups continue to face barriers that hinder their full participation in political, economic, and social life. These disadvantages are often rooted in gender, age, geographic location, occupation, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship status, disability, and sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI), among other factors. Such social exclusion not only denies individuals dignity and security but also deprives them of the opportunity to lead improved, fulfilling lives. Without addressing the root causes of systemic exclusion and discrimination, achieving sustainable, inclusive growth and reducing poverty will remain a challenge. Exclusion is also an issue in natural resource management. It is apparent in instances such as deciding where to place a borehole in a community – usually decided at a higher level missing technical and qualitative aspects.

Building Capacity for Inclusive Action 

Therefore, from June to September 2025, the NatuReS Programme in Zambia, in collaboration with the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI), has conducted comprehensive training workshops. They served to empower partners from civil society, the private sector, and public institutions with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance social inclusion and gender equality across their programmes. The objective was to build the partners’ capacity to meaningfully integrate principles of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), community empowerment, and accountability in their work. The trainings covered diverse thematic areas including water security, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, public health, community awareness, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). 

During the trainings participants were equipped with practical strategies to: 

• Understand and apply key concepts of gender equality, social inclusion, safeguarding, and empowerment within the context of WASH and natural resource stewardship programmes.  
• Identify barriers to inclusion and discriminatory practices that limit the participation, leadership, and wellbeing of marginalised groups.  
• Apply approaches that are gender-transformative and also inclusive of other marginalised groups to programme design, implementation, and monitoring to address social inequalities and promote community empowerment.  

By doing so, the initiative seeks to enhance the inclusivity, impact, and sustainability of partner efforts in managing natural resources and improving community resilience. 

Why Social Inclusion Matters

Social inclusion is not just a moral imperative – it is a strategic necessity for sustainable development. Ensuring the participation of marginalised and vulnerable groups in the governance and management of natural resources is crucial to achieving equitable development shaped by the diverse voices and experiences of all community members.

For the NatuReS Programme, social inclusion lies at the heart of its approach to fostering effective, collective governance through multi-stakeholder partnerships. By removing barriers to participation in decision-making, the partnerships contribute to a Just Transition and ensure that no one is left behind. 

From 9 to 11 September 2025, the Natural Resources Stewardship (NatuReS II) Programme hosted a regional exchange workshop in Lusaka, Zambia. Based on the experiences of the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI), the event aimed to promote collaboration and learning on city-wide Stewardship Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (SMSPs). It brought together 45 private sector, public sector and civil society partners from Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ethiopia working on inclusive, environmentally responsible development and natural resources governance. Key objectives of the event included sharing experiences, tools, and best practices on SMSP implementation across the partnering countries. The workshop was part of a series of NatuReS II regional exchanges to support the uptake and replication of proven approaches on SMSPs for a Just Transition and facilitate inter-country connections. 

Regional Workshop Opens with Focus on Partnerships for Water Security

The first day of the workshop kicked off with opening remarks emphasising the urgency of cross-country collaboration for sustainable natural resource management. Ms Adjoa Parker, NatuReS Country Coordinator in Zambia, welcomed participants, stressing that mutual learning and regional exchange are key to addressing shared environmental challenges and scale effective solutions. Ms Anke Peine-Ellis, GIZ Zambia’s Water and Energy Cluster Coordinator, underscored the climate risks facing Zambia, including extreme droughts and floods that threaten key sectors like agriculture and energy. She pointed to the collective achievements showcased at previous exchanges such as digital water governance in Tanzania and ecosystem-based solutions in Ethiopia as examples of the valuable regional knowledge-sharing this event would foster.

Ms Yanko Tamandani Mataya, LuWSI Board Chair and WaterAid Zambia Country Director, highlighted LuWSI’s major accomplishments, including the launch of a digital water atlas and outreach that has benefited over 259,000 community members. She emphasised that LuWSI’s success lies in turning a shared vision into measurable impact, offering a replicable model for other cities. Last but not least, Eng. Romas Kamanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, took to the stage, calling for integrated solutions that connect water security to sectors such as health, energy, and industry. He praised the SMSP model as an effective way to deliver Zambia’s Vision 2030 and achieve SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation. He then officially opened the workshop, urging participants to engage fully and take lessons from Zambia back to their own countries.

Following the opening, the exchange presented highlights and key experiences from the partnerships in all four NatuReS II countries to enable two-way learning. Find out more on all partnerships here. This overview also illustrated how SMSPs, coupled with inclusive governance, drive socio-ecological transformation in their local contexts. 

Learning About the Journey of LuWSI—Building a City-wide Water Security Partnership

The afternoon sessions delved further into the work and development of the LuWSI partnership. To provide context on the process, Ms Wyness Zimba, an Advisor from the NatuReS team in Zambia, presented the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF), the approach guiding the facilitation of our partnerships. It consists of five phases: Prepare, Assess, Commit, Act, and Scale/Exit. She stressed that these are not linear but iterative and that sustainability must be integrated from the start rather than being an afterthought.

Following this, Mr Nathan Nyambe from the LuWSI secretariat shared further details on the LuWSI platform, which unites over 40 partners across sectors to improve water security in Lusaka. Formally registered in 2022, LuWSI operates under a governance structure led by a General Assembly and Board of Directors, with strategic goals focused on collaboration, capacity building, financial sustainability, and collective action. Mr Nyambe highlighted key projects such as wellfield protection, green cities adaptation, and solid waste management, demonstrating how the platform tackles complex water challenges through coordinated efforts.

The session concluded with an interactive walk-through of LuWSI’s development since 2016, where participants explored milestones and lessons learned. In a plenary reflection, participants shared their key takeaways and acknowledged LuWSI’s achievements in gaining recognition and delivering real benefits to communities and the environment through robust governance and funding arrangements. The group agreed that strong stakeholder buy-in through shared goals, resources, time and endurance are essential for applying and scaling the NRAF framework.

Strengthening Sustainability and Governance of SMSPs

The second day of the conference delved further into the details of facilitating lasting and inclusive partnerships with committed participation of the private sector. It opened with a session on sustainability and governance of SMSPs, led by Mr Kasenga Hara, Coordinator of the LuWSI Secretariat. He traced LuWSI’s journey from its early days under GIZ to its current structure as an independent entity hosted by NWASCO and outlined various funding strategies tested over time. These included membership fees, event sponsorships, knowledge monetisation, and project-based financing amidst challenges such as regulatory compliance, limited core funding, and economic constraints. To ensure LuWSI’s long-term viability, Mr Hara emphasised the need for innovation, diversified revenue models, and even stronger partner engagement.

Following the presentation, participants broke into country groups to reflect on LuWSI’s efforts as well as the state of their own partnerships with regards to sustainability. Across countries, common themes emerged: the importance of clear governance, stakeholder alignment and compelling value propositions for members, sustainable financing and business models, and tangible results. However, maintaining momentum and engagement, ensuring inclusivity, mobilising resources, and balancing government support with autonomy remain key challenges.

Empowering communities and advancing inclusivity: integrating women and marginalised groups in SMSPs

The second topic of the day focused on inclusivity and delivering just outcomes in SMSPs. Mr David Nonde Mwamba from NatuReS Zambia opened the session, reflecting with participants on the human rights-based approach and highlighting that inclusion must be operationalised early and tied to formal governance systems. Next, Evelyn Musonda from Lusaka City Council showcased the key role of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in local governance. Legally mandated, WDCs link communities to councils, support local planning, and ensure that marginalised voices are heard. Partnerships with organisations like WWF and the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities have strengthened WDCs’ capacity, embedding gender, disability, and climate considerations into local development plans.

A video from Kamanga Ward featured Fatima Nkhuwa, a WDC member, who shared how training helped communities take ownership of development initiatives like road grading and waste management. She stressed empathy, accountability, and community cohesion. The session concluded by reaffirming that durable inclusion requires aligning social rights with institutional responsibilities through ongoing dialogue and accountability.

Spotlight on private sector participation in SMSPs

The third session explored the role, motivations, and experiences of the private sector in Stewardship Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships. Since starting in 2016, companies like Zambia Breweries, Coca-Cola, and British American Tobacco (BAT) joined LuWSI, contributing to activities such as catchment protection, sanitation, and awareness campaigns. While initially difficult, Sandra Ngozo from the LuWSI Secretariat shared how private sector participation gradually gained momentum through evidence-based advocacy and persistent engagement. She also emphasised that private sector contributions are not limited to funding. Companies also helped co-develop strategies, hosted dialogues, and sponsored joint initiatives. As participation widened to include local utilities and waste management firms, the platform demonstrated that stewardship could deliver both community impact and business value. Sustained engagement, she noted, was driven by trust, recognition, and alignment with shared goals.

Building on this, Ms Sophia Mapulanga from BAT Zambia presented how the company applies the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard to integrate water stewardship into its daily operations. Key measures included internal awareness, water monitoring, and infrastructure upgrades. Since implementing an environmental management system in 2021, BAT Zambia achieved zero landfill waste and AWS certification by 2023, exceeding its water reduction targets. Both speakers concluded that effective stewardship hinges on long-term commitment, clear standards, and collective action across sectors.

In a panel discussion facilitated by Ms Ngozo, private sector representatives delved further into the business case for engaging in stewardship partnerships like LuWSI. It featured Ms Bridget Bwembya from Zambian Breweries, Ms Sophia Mapulanga from BAT Zambia, and Ms Carol Sampa from the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (LSMFEZ).

• Ms Bwembya shared how Zambian Breweries uses platforms such as LuWSI to deliver water-related projects aligned with corporate sustainability goals, e.g. water access initiatives in the George Compound or a recycling programme. She stressed the need for long-term planning and clear roles to ensure continuity.
• For BAT, LuWSI has been instrumental in opening doors and building connections to address joint water issues and co-implement environmental initiatives like reforestation. To anchor stewardship within companies, Ms Mapulanga pointed to the clear monetary benefit of saving and recycling water and noted how this was enforced by embedding sustainability in corporate KPIs.
• For the LSMFEZ, the value of engaging in water stewardship is clear. Dependant on ground water and with more development planned, responsible and efficient water management is key for resilient economic development and bringing investment to the zone. Having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LuWSI, Ms Sampa outlined how the LSMFEZ is benefitting from the shared experience and partnering with LuWSI to improve water reliability and wastewater management, e.g. through pre-treatment facilities and addressing water losses.

All panellists agreed that water stewardship requires more than compliance – it demands strategic partnerships, early stakeholder involvement, and community engagement to achieve lasting, shared benefits. Key takeaways for the audience included the importance of speaking the language of private investors, aligning environmental initiatives with legal mandates, and linking stewardship to business outcomes.

Connecting Across Countries

In addition to all the thematic input and exchange on the many different aspects of building effective multi-stakeholder partnerships, the exchange provided plenty opportunities for the partners to connect across sectors and countries. An interactive marketplace gave the Zambian partners space to display their initiatives through visual material and short presentations. Booths were hosted by LuWSI, GIZ NatuReS as well as many partner organisations such as WaterAid, WWF, Lusaka City Council, Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Coca-Cola Beverages Zambia. Participants rotated in between, engaging in informal discussions and peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, the event featured an interactive “speed-dating” exercise to encourage direct exchange on experiences, joint challenges, and potential partnerships. Participants also continued discussions at the evening’s networking dinner.

Site visits to the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone

On the final day of the exchange, participants embarked on a field visit to deepen their understanding of private sector involvement in sustainable water and resource management. The day began at the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (LSMFEZ), where Mr Maxwell Zulu, Director of Planning & Compliance, delivered a presentation on the zone’s operations, compliance framework, and investment plans. Participants engaged actively, highlighting the significant potential of such industrial hubs to advance both environmental and economic objectives.

This was followed by site visits to two private sector companies within LSMFEZ that have been consistent, willing and taken initiatives like the pursuit of the AWS certification. At the BAT Zambia factory, participants were shown the packaging process and learned about the company’s environmental compliance and waste management practices. Next, at Trade Kings Home Care Limited, they toured the soap and detergent plant, gaining insights into production processes and the site’s approach to water efficiency and reuse.

The day concluded with a reflection session. Participants each identified two concrete actions they would pursue upon return from the exchange – ranging from initiating sustainability programs, strengthening partnerships, and mobilising stakeholders, to replicating SMSP governance models and business planning. These personal commitments underscored a strong intent to apply lessons learned in their local contexts.