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Digging Deep: How Groundwater Data Is Transforming Lives in Rural Zambia
In the sunbaked district of Nyimba in Eastern Zambia, where droughts have become increasingly common due to climate change, something remarkable is happening beneath the ground. A quiet revolution in data gathering is transforming how people understand, manage, and protect one of their most precious resources—water.
It's not always easy to find a fully flat surface in the bush, as required by the sensitive measuring equipment.
It all started with a problem: communities and farmers across Zambia rely heavily on groundwater for everything from drinking to growing food. But the country lacked the data to properly map, manage, or protect these underground water sources. Without reliable groundwater data, it’s nearly impossible to plan for droughts, design sustainable water systems, or even know how much water is left beneath the soil.
Recognizing this urgent need, the UNEP Climate Technology Centre and Network (UN CTCN) joined forces with OneWorld Sustainable Investments to bring cutting-edge technology and know-how to Zambia’s aquifers. Their mission? To pilot a new aquifer mapping method and groundwater recharge tool that could one day guide water strategy for the entire country.
The pilot began in Nyimba District—a region hit hard by drying trends and water scarcity. With local officials and the Ministry of Water Development on board, the team got to work. But there was a major obstacle: the data simply wasn’t there. Critical information like water levels, recharge rates, and climate trends was either unavailable or inaccessible. The mapping tools, no matter how advanced, were only as good as the data that fed them.
Faced with this roadblock, the team looked abroad for solutions. That’s when they discovered the Danish-developed sTEM 5 Amp system, a powerful tool capable of producing high-quality data that profiles and analyses features of the ground that influence groundwater. But there was a catch—Zambia’s government didn’t have the budget to acquire the equipment.
Instead of letting the project stall, OneWorld stepped up. With support from CTCN and co-financed by the AFCIA I programme, they purchased the equipment and partnered with Zambian officials to get the job done.
In March 2025, the team packed up the sTEM system and headed to the Nyimba wellfield. Over several days, they collected data from 180 points across two sites. Despite the challenging terrain – the equipment requires a completely flat surface, and was not designed for Zambia’s rocky, bushy landscape - the results were more than promising. Not only was the data of high quality, but it also met the standards needed to shape a sustainable water management plan.
The impact of this work is potentially life-changing. Nyimba District, home to about 160,000 largely poor people—55% of them women—depends more and more on groundwater for survival. With better data, the community can make informed decisions on how to manage its water, especially during increasingly frequent dry spells. And it doesn’t stop there. This model could be replicated across Zambia’s Eastern Province and eventually, the whole country, benefiting millions.
The Zambian Ministry of Water Development is already seeing the potential. After witnessing the equipment in action, officials expressed their enthusiasm for its rapid data-gathering capabilities and its promise for scaling up.
"Access to accurate groundwater data is not just a key to unlocking sustainable development, but also a powerful tool in the fight against poverty. By understanding and managing this vital resource, we can empower communities to thrive and break the cycle of poverty,” said Belynda Petrie at OneWorld Sustainable Investments.
But there’s more to the story than machines and measurements. This initiative has spotlighted a deeper issue: while valuable data exists in Zambia, it is often fragmented, not easily accessible, or underutilized by those who need it most. Bridging this gap—by making data sharing more efficient and transparent—is now a national priority.
Looking ahead, this project could impact up to 13 million Zambians—nearly 70% of the population—who rely on aquifers for drinking water, farming, and economic livelihoods. The data collected will not only help secure water access but also guide broader strategies around food security, livestock management, and climate resilience.
And with the Ministry of Mines soon launching a geological survey by helicopter, Zambia is poised for a leap forward in understanding what lies beneath its feet. What started as a technical challenge in a single district may soon become a national success story—powered by data, driven by collaboration, and rooted in the lives of the people it seeks to serve.
