In Zambia’s Lower Kafue Sub-Catchment, rising water demand, climate change, and land degradation have reduced water availability and negatively impacted smallholder livelihoods. To address it, GIZ implemented the AWARE project, combining catchment restoration, climate-smart agriculture, and strengthening water governance.

Communities co-plan and implement low-cost Nature-based Solutions (NbS) – soil bunds, trenches, check dams – restoring degraded catchments and improve water availability. Downstream farmers apply climate-smart agricultural practices at demonstration sites. Gender-sensitive design ensures women lead and benefit equally. Community members are trained as local experts, sustaining results beyond the project cycle.

Water User Associations (WUAs) coordinate local action, while collaboration between line ministries and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) aligns outcomes with national water governance. The approach informed Zambia’s national rainwater-harvesting strategy and is being scaled under AWARE 2