Kafue faced significant sanitation challenges, characterised by limited sewer network coverage and a heavy reliance on septic tanks and basic pit latrines. These systems often fell short in providing safe, sustainable, and scalable sanitation solutions for growing communities.

To address this, Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) offered an innovative and proven alternative. Successfully implemented by Fresh Life in Kenya, this model provided safe, hygienic, and efficient waste management services in densely populated and underserved areas.

This project aimed to pilot CBS technology in Kafue, with a target of deploying between 120 and 150 units annually from January to December 2025. The initiative sought to adapt and replicate a model that had been serving over 250,000 people in Kenya, tailoring it to the Zambian context.

As part of this pilot, CaDev was engaged to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the intervention. This included evaluating user acceptance, community dynamics, affordability, and operational feasibility. Insights from this assessment guided decisions on future scale-up and supported the sustainable integration of CBS into the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) service delivery framework.

Key outcomes of the project included:

• Adapting CBS technology to local community needs and contexts
• Assessing affordability and willingness to pay
• Identifying and mitigating unintended social or environmental impacts
• Strengthening stakeholder alignment and collaboration

Ultimately, the project enabled LWSC and Fresh Life to design, test, and implement a collaborative model that supported long-term sustainability and improved sanitation outcomes for Kafue.