WaterPartners

Last updated
WaterPartners International
Formation1990
Type Developmental aid organization
Executive Director
Gary White

WaterPartners International was an American nonprofit developmental aid organization tasked with the specific purpose of providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries. Founded in 1990, it has since provided safe drinking water and sanitation to more than 200 communities in eight countries – Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, India, Kenya, and the Philippines. [1] The organization's co-founder and current executive director Gary White [2] is also a founding board member of the Global Water Challenge [3] and Water Advocates. [4]

Contents

In July 2009, WaterPartners International merged with H2O Africa to form Water.org, co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White. [5]

Approach

WaterPartners' approach to implementing water projects involves four key components:

  1. forging partnerships with local partner organizations in the countries it serves
  2. involving the community at each stage of the project
  3. selecting technology appropriate to the local community and their particular situation
  4. integrating all projects with health and hygiene education.

The organization conducts monitoring, evaluation, and original research programs. It has initiated third-party evaluations of its programs to determine how it is fulfilling its mission. [6]

WaterPartners' stated vision is to work towards providing safe drinking water to everyone in the world. [7] Currently, approximately one in six people on earth lack access to safe source of drinking water. [8] [9] More than two billion people lack access to basic sanitation. [10]

WaterCredit

WaterPartners projects were funded through grants, loans, or a combination of the two. Its loan program is called WaterCredit. [11] It uses the concept of microcredit to fund water sanitation projects. [12] [13]

WaterPartners received grants from organizations such as the PepsiCo Foundation, [14] The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, [15] and Open Square Foundation (previously called the Agora Foundation). [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanitation</span> Public health conditions related to clean water and proper excreta and sewage disposal

Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation systems aim to protect human health by providing a clean environment that will stop the transmission of disease, especially through the fecal–oral route. For example, diarrhea, a main cause of malnutrition and stunted growth in children, can be reduced through adequate sanitation. There are many other diseases which are easily transmitted in communities that have low levels of sanitation, such as ascariasis, cholera, hepatitis, polio, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, to name just a few.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WaterAid</span> International NGO, focused on water, sanitation and hygiene

WaterAid is an international non-governmental organization, focused on water, sanitation and hygiene. It was set up in 1981 as a response to the UN International Drinking Water decade (1981–1990). As of 2018, it was operating in 34 countries.

East Meets West, known in the United States as Thrive Networks, is an international non-governmental organization that creates evidence-based programs and technologies in health, water, sanitation, and education for people in Asia and Africa. It was founded in 1988 by author and humanitarian Le Ly Hayslip and is based in Oakland, California, USA.

Water supply and sanitation in Indonesia is characterized by poor levels of access and service quality. Almost 30 million people lack access to an improved water source and more than 70 million of the country's 264 million population has no access to improved sanitation. Only about 2% of people have access to sewerage in urban areas; this is one of the lowest in the world among middle-income countries. Water pollution is widespread on Bali and Java. Women in Jakarta report spending US$11 per month on boiling water, implying a significant burden for the poor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia</span> Overview drinking water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia

Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from foreign aid, much still remains to be done. Some factors inhibiting the achievement of these goals are the limited capacity of water bureaus in the country's nine regions, two city administrations and water desks in the 770 districts of Ethiopia (woredas); insufficient cost recovery for proper operation and maintenance; and different policies and procedures used by various donors, notwithstanding the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water 1st International</span>

Water 1st International is a non-profit organization whose stated goal is helping people in poor countries implement water, sanitation and hygiene education projects. Water 1st works through locally based partner organizations to support the implementation of projects that include the provision of drinking water, hygiene education, and sanitary latrines. It is based in Seattle, Washington, and to date has supported the construction of 1,100 water systems in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Honduras benefiting over 120,000 people. To help ensure long-term sustainability, the communities supported by Water 1st are involved in every step of the planning, implementing and financing of their projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Sanitation Alliance</span> Network of sustainable sanitation organizations

The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) is a loose network of organizations who are "working along the same lines towards achieving sustainable sanitation". It began its work in 2007, one year before the United Nations International Year of Sanitation in 2008. The intention of creating SuSanA was to have a joint label for the planned activities for 2008 and to align the various organizations for further initiatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H2O Africa Foundation</span>

The H2O Africa Foundation was an NGO founded by Matt Damon to raise awareness about clean water initiatives in Africa. It was part of the Running the Sahara expedition and documentary project undertaken by Damon, James Moll, LivePlanet, and the Independent Producers Alliance. In July 2009, the H2O Africa Foundation merged with WaterPartners to form Water.org, an organization co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White of WaterPartners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifewater International</span> Christian organization

Lifewater International is a non-profit Christian water development organization serving the world's rural poor through integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. In 40 years, Lifewater has served 2.5 million people in 40 countries.

The drinking water supply and sanitation sector in Guatemala is characterized by low and inconsistent service coverage, especially in rural areas; unclear allocation of management responsibilities; and little or no regulation and monitoring of service provision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water supply and sanitation in Ghana</span> Drinking water supply and sanitation in Ghana

The water supply and sanitation sector in Ghana is a sector that is in charge of the supply of healthy water and also improves the sanitation of water bodies in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water For People</span> American non-profit aid organization

Water For People was founded in 1991 by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) as a response to the increasing water scarcity in developing countries. It is a nonprofit international development organization that helps people in rural parts of developing countries achieve greater access to drinkable and potable water and sanitation facilities. It works to accomplish the United Nations' 6th Sustainable Development Goal: availability of clean water and sanitation and comprehensive monitoring of freshwater facilities for the progression of human health. They seek to address the issue of nonexistent and suboptimal water and sanitation facilities across less-developed countries. With developing locally sustainable drinking water resources and sanitation facilities, Water For People also works to bring health and hygiene education programs to local districts. The non-governmental organization also works to empower and involve local governments, corporations, schools, homes, and individuals in the construction, financing, and maintenance of the water infrastructure. Water For People has established a year-round presence in 30 districts of nine developing countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, India, Rwanda, Uganda and Malawi. In totality, Water For People reaches 4 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WASH</span> Water, sanitation and hygiene - a key public health issue globally

WASH is an acronym that stands for "water, sanitation and hygiene". It is used widely by non-governmental organizations and aid agencies in developing countries. The purposes of providing access to WASH services include achieving public health gains, improving human dignity in the case of sanitation, implementing the human right to water and sanitation, reducing the burden of collecting drinking water for women, reducing risks of violence against women, improving education and health outcomes at schools and health facilities, and reducing water pollution. Access to WASH services is also an important component of water security. Universal, affordable and sustainable access to WASH is a key issue within international development and is the focus of the first two targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Targets 6.1 and 6.2 aim at equitable and accessible water and sanitation for all. In 2017, it was estimated that 2.3 billion people live without basic sanitation facilities and 844 million people live without access to safe and clean drinking water.

The water crisis in Honduras is the problem of physical and economic water scarcity in Honduras.

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) was a United Nations-hosted organization contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 6, Target 6.2 on sanitation and hygiene. It was established in 1990 and closed at the end of 2020. WSSCC advocated for improved sanitation and hygiene, with a focus on the needs of women, girls and people in vulnerable situations.

Water Engineers for the Americas (WEFTA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary White (engineer)</span>

Gary White is the CEO and co-founder of Water.org.

IRC is an international think tank that works with governments, NGOs, entrepreneurs and people around the world to find long-term solutions to the global crisis in water, sanitation and hygiene services. Founded in 1968, IRC is a non-profit organisation registered since 1980 as a Foundation under Dutch Law. It has its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands with country offices in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali and Uganda. In 2021, IRC had 130 staff members and 30 associates, and recorded a turnover of €8.7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Development Goal 6</span> Global goal to achieve clean water and sanitation for all people by 2030

Sustainable Development Goal 6 is about "clean water and sanitation for all". It is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. According to the United Nations, the goal is to: "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all." The goal has eight targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress toward the targets will be measured by using eleven indicators.

References

  1. Ex-Aquila COO Stamm takes job with nonprofit, KC Business Journal, December 6, 2007
  2. Group Fights to Deliver Water to the Poor, AP, January 30, 2005
  3. Kenya: Sustaining and Scaling School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Global Water Challenge, December 13, 2006
  4. Water Advocates
  5. Damon joins K.C. organization to provide for developing communities AP, July 15, 2009
  6. Community Water Systems Sustainability Study, Lempira, Honduras, Emory University, October 1, 2006
  7. US Organization Helps People in Honduras Access Safe Water, US Department of State, September 21, 2006
  8. Water Diaries, Living on Earth, PRI, August 17, 2007
  9. WaterPartners International - Ethiopia, Aware Magazine, October 1, 2007
  10. No joke: It's World Toilet Day, USA Today November 19, 2007
  11. Future - Clean Water Solutions, Need Magazine, page 10, October 1, 2007
  12. Water Projects Sustain Hope and Life in Developing Countries, Voice of America, March 28, 2006
  13. A Thirsty World, Trans World Features India, January 24, 2007
  14. Coalition Pledges $400 Million For Clean Water, Sanitation, Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2008
  15. Firm Decisions, Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2007
  16. Grants to Aid Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education Overseas: a Sampling, Chronicle of Philanthropy, October 18, 2007