The project is targeting Mzuzu city and Karonga town, located in the northern region of Malawi. The slum settlements in these places have poor access to health, water and sanitation. Therefore, the project is planned to result in: (i) Increased water supply and sanitation coverage leading to reduction of water borne, water related diseases and child mortality rate. (ii) Improved living condition and longevity for the residents; (iii) Improved health leading to increased productivity, economic growth and poverty reduction and (iv) strengthened local institutions capacity for improved and sustained water supply and sanitation service delivery in the towns.

UN-Habitat will work with existing governmental structures in implementation and management of the project. It is to promote capacity building of national partners, strengthen country ownership and promote sustainability of results. This approach is the norm for execution of UN-supported programmes in agreement with the Paris Declaration. Where necessary specific capacity building actions of local partners will be carried out in order to enhance capacity to deliver. UN-Habitat Headquarters provides technical support to all implementing partners in the planning, design and implementation of activities. UN-Habitat is also providing capacity building support to all partners. UN-Habitat National Office provides project management functions through its Country Programme Manager. Centre for Community Development (CCODE0, the co-applicant, is responsible for the implementation of the sanitation component of the project. The Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) is accountable for the implementation of the water component of the project. Agreement of Cooperation has been signed between UN-Habitat and the Karonga and Mzuzu Councils are e responsible for facilitation and provide support for the sanitation and hygiene components of the project.

UN-Habitat is playing the role of an overall coordination of the project. It has entered into Agreement of Cooperation (AoC) with the Northern Region Water Board and Centre for Community Development (CCODE) to implement the water and sanitation components of the project respectively. UN-Habitat undertakes the coordination through the Habitat Programme Manager (HPM) that is stationed in Lilongwe, Malawi. A project manager is assigned at the UN-Habitat head office in Nairobi to do the oversight and facilitate the coordination of the backstopping activities that are provided by various technical experts. A Steering Committee, which is responsible for the overall strategic guidance on the implementation of the project, has been established. The key stakeholders are represented in the Steering Committee. UN-Habitat in close collaboration with the Steering Committee has the responsibility of monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the action and providing technical and administrative assistance to the partners.

UN-Habitat, Center for Community Development (CCODE), Northern Region Water Board (NRWB), Mzuzu City Council (MCC), Karonga District Council (KDC), European Union (Financier)