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Poor slum communities in Zambia, who face harsh conditions on a daily basis, are working collectively to improve their living conditions. They have successfully negotiated for secure land from the local authorities in three cities and, with the support of this initiative, will be able to plan and construct their own sustainable settlements with improved housing and infrastructure facilities.

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Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Disaster Relief Disaster Relief
  • Homeless/Refuge Homeless/​Refuge
  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other

    Situation

    Slum settlements in Zambia are overcrowded and unplanned; roads and drains, if present, are in poor condition. There are generally no sewage systems or refuse disposal facilities, and water points are limited. These poor living conditions impact greatly on health and social wellbeing. Zambia’s human development indicators are some of the worst in Africa, with life expectancy having fallen from 54 years in 1990 to below 38 years in present estimates. 40% of Zambians live in cities and 70% of these have no option but to live in informal slum settlements, many of which are illegal. As such, millions of lives are already affected by poor living conditions and this number will rise unless the critical issues of land and housing are addressed. Poor families living in slums across Zambia have joined together in a social movement called the Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation. The members, which now number 22,000 families, are collectively saving and working together to upgrade their slum settlements and improve their lives. In the past year, the Federation has successfully negotiated the allocation of land from local authorities in three urban centres; Kitwe, Livingstone and Kalulushi. This new land means that 340 poor families will have secure tenure, no longer be at risk of forced eviction and have the opportunity to construct adequate housing and infrastructure, resulting in improved living conditions. The Federation’s successful negotiation for land is an important breakthrough, but it is crucial that the Federation starts collectively building their own houses and other facilities on this land as soon as possible, as the local authorities could legally reclaim it after two years if it has not started to be developed. The Federation members are saving what they can afford into a revolving loan fund, which they manage with support from Homeless International’s partner organisation in Zambia, People’s Process on Housing and Poverty in Zambia. This Fund allows Federation groups to access affordable loans to begin infrastructure development, such as inputting water connections, and the building of toilet blocks and community centres, as well as the collective construction of their own homes so that families can be sure of a safe and secure future. However, community savings alone cannot meet the initial capital requirements for settlement development. It is essential that the Fund be strengthened by donations. This is especially important, as the development of the land in these three cities will set a precedent resulting in the likely allocation of more land in the future. The revolving nature of the Fund will ensure that the benefits are sustained for future settlement development. We would like to request that visitors to The Big Give website augment the revolving loan Fund and support the members of the Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation to develop the new land and, hence, improve their lives.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Disaster Relief Disaster Relief
  • Homeless/Refuge Homeless/​Refuge
  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other