President Hakainde Hichilema, on 22 March 2023 was presented the inaugural VIP Global Water Changemaker Award. Zambia’s United Nations Permanent Representative, His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Chola Milambo, received the award on behalf of the Zambian people at the United Nations Water Conference Side Event held in New York, United States of America.
The Award was given for local country leadership on launch of the water investment program.
President Hakainde Hichilema, on 16 July 2022, launched the first ever Zambia Water Investment Program (AIP-Zambia) during the African Union Mid-Year Co-ordination Summit, in Lusaka.
As water is the main source of socio-economic development, the aim of the program is to enhance job creation of about 200 000 formal jobs and about 800 000 indirect jobs by 2030 through gender sensitive investment in water security, industralisation and climate resilient development.
The program has so far been conducting trainings of leaders of various sectors in gender integration in water and climate programs throughout the country.
The Zambia Water Investment Program is expected to benefit at least 2 million Zambian citizens through economic opportunities generated by the water and sanitation investments and other interventions under the program.