USAID, Coca-Cola support new water programmes in Africa

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Coca-Cola Company will support new programmes under their Water and Development Alliance (WADA) that will provide more than 190,000 people with improved clean water and/or improved sanitation services by the end of 2015.

WADA will support integrated approaches to clean water and sanitation service delivery in Africa where more than 300 million are without an improved water source and 630 million lack improved sanitation facilities. It will help in the development of infrastructure for clean water, sanitation and hygiene education for schools, clean water kiosks for communities, and the installation of sanitation infrastructure in schools and health clinics.

This joint investment is aligned with USAID and Coca-Cola’s shared focus on clean water provision to help build healthy, sustainable communities. WADA, established in 2005, is operating under a refreshed investment strategy. Its new strategic direction combines the core strengths of Coca-Cola and USAID for greater impact and contribution to address international water challenges with a focus on water for health, the environment and productive use. This strategy is built on the core values of local ownership, institutional synergy, technical quality and transformational change. The partners are collaborating to develop a series of water programs with significant impact around the world.

Highlights of the work to be supported include a range of approaches that offer lasting clean water and sanitation services in partnership with communities and utilities to support government objectives, including:

• Nigeria – At least 65,000 people will benefit from the installation of hand-pump boreholes, improved sanitation facilities, hand-washing stations and rain harvesters at schools and health care facilities. Communities will also be trained in the long-term maintenance of the infrastructure and water management committees will be offered capacity building services.
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