University of Zambia

Metrics

University
University of Zambia
Program
Lusaka Sustainability Programme
Years
2017-Present
Case Type
Program Stories
School Size
20,000 - 40,000
Focus Areas
Environment Sustainability
Discipline
Planning
Urban and Regional Planning
Region
Africa

Lusaka Sustainability Programme

Website | Coming soon

The Lusaka Sustainability Programme (LSP) was launched in 2017. It is now a city-wide effort. University of Zambia works closely with Departments of City Planning, Department of Housing and Social Services and plans exist to involve all Departments in the City Council.

In its first full academic year in operation (2018-2019), the programme began a partnership with the City of Lusaka. Ten academics and 30 students participated in the projects to date. During the project, students freely consult and engage with city contact persons and community members. Students freely and directly work with community members and it has been made possible by the strategic contacts created by champions in the city, university, and community. Each project ends each semester with clear recommendations for implementation.

The programme uses a joint effort involving community, local authority and university program champions and stakeholders to choose the projects for the partnership. The programme has focused on improving urban sustainability in informal settlements of the City. The first half of the year is spent working on a local community while the second half is still wide. Both local and city-wide projects focus on improving livelihoods for the city population. The feedback from students has been very positive. Community stakeholder and city officials have been very supportive and are keen participants.

EPIC Class of 2018-2019 (with community leaders), picture taken on site in 2018
EPIC Class of 2018-2019. Programme supporting infrastructure and transport efforts

Fun Facts about the LSP

The University of Zambia Lusaka Sustainability Programme is one of the founding members of EPIC Africa. The programme is current administered from the Centre for Urban Research and Planning within the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. The Centre was jointly formed by the University of Zambia and Lusaka City Council to support collaborative efforts aimed at promoting urban sustainability and improving people’s livelihoods.

Students in the past year made plans for:

  • Climate / flood resilience
  • People-led Slum upgrading
  • Improvement of Social services
  • Strategic infrastructure development & managing urban sprawl
Water and sanitation challenges in Lusaka (LSP Class)
Mapping the nexus: Water, solid waste and urban flooding in Lusaka (Taken by LSP class of Class of 2018)

Year Program Established | 2017
Country | Zambia
Public or Private Institution | Public
Number of students at institution | 28,000

Highlight Articles/Videos

The City Council and the University of Zambia are in advanced conversations on signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the implementation of the EPIC Lusaka programme. In 2019, the LSP is supported financially by the Leading Integrated Research Agenda (LIRA) programme supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) in partnership with the African Science Academy.  

Maps made by students for Lusaka Integrated Analysis project:

Proposed framework for intervention by local authority, civil society and community members, Map is part of the strategic report made available to Lusaka City Authorities (Extract from EPIC Class Model student of 2018).
Extract from Systematic issue analysis map by students (EPIC Class Model of 2018), Map is part of the report made available to Lusaka City Authorities
Extract from Systematic issue analysis map by students – report made available to Lusaka City Authorities (EPIC Class Model of 2018).
Figure 8: Proposed framework for intervention by local authority, civil society and community members, Map is part of the strategic report made available to Lusaka City Authorities (Extract from EPIC Class Model student of 2018).

Community Partners

2017-2019 | City of Lusaka • Population 2,400,000 (2018)

Contact Info

Gilbert Siame, PhD
LSP Coordinator
Lecturer & Researcher
EPIC Africa Co-Chair
+260 979457414
siamegilbert@yahoo.co.uk

Join conversations about EPIC Africa here.