Govt, UNDP hands over CRRF Project in Mambwe

The Zambian government, operating through the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD) and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), has formally handed over critical Community Recovery and Resilience Facility (CRRF) infrastructure projects to local communities in Mambwe District, Eastern Province. Implemented in strategic partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the initiative is designed to fortify vulnerable rural populations against worsening climate shocks, including recurrent droughts, dry spells, and destructive seasonal floods. Speaking during the formal handover ceremony, officials emphasized that proactive investments in disaster preparedness are critical to breaking the persistent cycle of poverty and climate vulnerability in the Luangwa Valley region. Mambwe District has historically faced severe environmental pressures, where shrinking water streams and erratic rainfall patterns severely compromise agricultural yields, household incomes, and food security. The newly commissioned facilities aim to directly address these systemic water deficits through targeted interventions. The pilot project encompasses several key infrastructural components, including the drilling and installation of high-yield solar-powered boreholes in areas such as Kajumba Village and the Mambwe Farmer Training Centre. Furthermore, the project has facilitated the rehabilitation of existing water points in wards like Pitilila and the construction of modern community water kiosks. These developments significantly reduce time poverty among women and young girls, who traditionally bear the arduous burden of walking long distances to fetch water while facing heightened exposure to safety and health risks. Beyond hard infrastructure, the CRRF framework incorporates essential capacity-building components aimed at strengthening local disaster management committees and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. Local cooperatives and community-base