By Mansa District Land Alliance (MDLA), in partnership with WaveSave (The Netherlands)

Across Africa, communities are increasingly facing two extremes in the same year: destructive floods and prolonged droughts. As MDLA works to strengthen climate resilience and secure livelihoods in Zambia, we are excited to announce our partnership with WaveSave, a Dutch water-control innovator. Together, we are exploring how mobile, water-filled flood barriers—known commercially as SLAMDAM—can both prevent flood damage and store water for irrigation.

In 2022, WaveSave implemented a flagship project in Mpanda Commune, Bubanza Province (Burundi). The solution was simple, fast and effective: deploy portable, water-filled barriers before peak rainfall to protect homes, farmland and infrastructure—then repurpose the same system to retain water for dry periods. The results offer a powerful blueprint for Zambia.

What Burundi taught us

Speed and simplicity save livelihoods. During flood threats, time is everything. WaveSave’s mobile barriers can be rapidly installed using locally available water, creating immediate protection without heavy equipment or permanent construction. Once the flood peak passes, the barriers can be reconfigured to hold water for irrigation, supporting crops across the dry season.

One asset, two benefits. Unlike traditional single-purpose defences, these barriers are dual-use. First, they act as a temporary levee to hold back floodwaters. Next, they function as temporary storage to feed canals or drip systems, recharge groundwater, and support smallholder irrigation. This duality stretches every Kwacha (and donor Dollar), improving value for money.

Community-centred deployment. Local teams can be trained to deploy, move and maintain the barriers. In Burundi, community training increased preparedness, cut response times and reduced crop losses. A similar training-first approach in Zambia would build durable local capacity.

Why this matters for Zambia

Zambia’s climate reality is “drought to deluge.” Recent seasons have brought a devastating El Niño-induced drought, while many districts also face seasonal flooding. The impacts are felt across agriculture, hydropower, fisheries and household water security. Solutions that protect during floods and buffer during droughts are essential for resilience.

Crucially, Zambia is advancing rainwater harvesting and irrigation to stabilise yields and incomes. A portable barrier that helps capture rainfall, protect fields and assets, and feed small-scale irrigation aligns neatly with national ambitions to scale water storage and climate-smart farming. It offers a practical, quickly deployable option to complement larger infrastructure.

Where this could work in Zambia

Flood-prone settlements and social services: Rapidly protect clinics, schools and markets during peak flows; redeploy barriers to create water storage for dry-season gardening and community water points.

Agricultural floodplains and dambos: Shape and hold controlled water in low-lying fields after rains to extend the growing season, recharge soils and reduce crop loss.

Livestock corridors: Create temporary watering basins that can be repositioned as conditions change.

Irrigation pilots: Pair water storage with low-pressure distribution (furrow, hose, or drip) to lift yields for smallholders with minimal energy inputs.

Urban/Peri-urban risk hot-spots: Offer rapidly deployable flood protection around critical infrastructure (pump stations, substations, bridges) during extreme events.

How the technology works (in brief)

The system consists of durable, water-fillable tubes that are filled on site. The weight and geometry create a stable barrier against flowing or standing water. The units are modular, so they can follow terrain, turn corners and be quickly extended. After the flood peak, sections can be repositioned to form temporary reservoirs or lined basins for irrigation supply and groundwater recharge. Because the units are reusable, operating costs decrease with every deployment.

The MDLA × WaveSave partnership

MDLA’s mission is to secure land, restore hope and empower communities. WaveSave brings practical flood-and-drought technology, project management and training. Together we will:

• Co-design pilots with local authorities and communities, starting where risks and benefits are highest.
• Train local teams for rapid deployment, safe operations and basic maintenance.
• Integrate with existing plans, aligning with local disaster management, agriculture and water strategies.
• Measure impact, tracking avoided losses, water stored, hectares irrigated and livelihood outcomes to guide scale-up.

Safeguards, governance and value for money

• No permanent concrete: minimal environmental footprint and fast demobilisation.
• Reusability: assets serve multiple seasons and sites, improving cost-effectiveness.
• Community ownership: training, drills and local decision-making ensure solutions fit local priorities.
• Scalable: start lean (protecting a clinic or market) and scale to larger perimeters or storage areas as benefits are proven.

What’s next

MDLA and WaveSave are now identifying potential pilot locations with clear flood risk and strong irrigation opportunities. If your community, cooperative or district is interested in a joint assessment, please get in touch. Together, we can turn Zambia’s water extremes into a resilience advantage, protecting people and assets during floods and unlocking reliable water for crops in the dry season.

Call to action

• Communities & cooperatives: Register interest in a pilot assessment.
• Local authorities & NGOs: Partner with us on training, site selection and monitoring.
• Donors & private sector: Co-finance scalable flood protection and water-harvesting solutions.