The global water crisis represents one of the most urgent challenges of our era, with billions lacking access to clean and safe water, precipitating severe health, economic, and environmental repercussions. The urgency of this crisis is underscored by SDG 6, which aims for universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030, marking water's pivotal role in sustainable development. Currently, 2.2 billion people worldwide are without safe drinking water, and nearly half the global population lacks access to safely managed sanitation facilities. The crisis disproportionately affects women and children, who often bear the brunt of inadequate water supply and sanitation facilities, leading to significant health risks and social burdens. India and Indonesia, where a fifth of the global population resides, represent significant areas of focus for achieving SDG 6. Despite high coverage of basic drinking water services, rural communities in these countries lag significantly behind in sanitation facilities. Addressing these disparities is crucial for improving health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to water and sanitation services.
Water.org's initiatives, particularly through the WaterCredit model, focus on developing sustainable solutions to the water crisis. This approach empowers local institutions and communities by facilitating affordable financing options for water and sanitation needs. In India and Indonesia, Water.org's recent four-year initiative has reached approximately 990,000 people, partnering with local Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to scale sustainable financial products. This strategic partnership has notably included collaboration with Reckitt, enhancing the program's reach and impact significantly. The initiative's extensive geographic coverage included diverse communities across 19 states in India and 21 provinces in Indonesia, targeting the areas most in need such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh in India, and Jawa Barat, Jawa Timur, and Sumatera Utara in Indonesia. The collaboration with Reckitt has been pivotal in supporting the distribution of 434,758 WaterCredit loans, mobilizing significant capital and achieving a substantial volumetric benefit of water saved, underlining the effectiveness and transformative potential of this partnership in addressing global water and sanitation challenges.
The evaluation aimed to systematically document the progress, achievements, and challenges faced in the ongoing initiatives aimed at improving water and sanitation access in these high-need regions. By analyzing the effectiveness of strategies like the WaterCredit model and collaborations with local microfinance institutions and global partners such as Reckitt, the report offerred actionable data and recommendations to enhance the impact and efficiency of these programs. Additionally, it served as a valuable tool for stakeholders, including policymakers, donors, and community leaders, to understand the real-world implications of their investments and support.
For more information about the project, reach out to Abison Paul and Manav Sharma.
Note: Image is for representational purposes only
