Back to the River Video Interview with Water Organizations

January 28, 2011
By Ned Breslin, Water For People CEO

"Back to the River" is an extremely important and honest video highlighting the challenges in the water sector in Africa, Asia and Latin America. There are lots of voices in this video but the ones from our friends in Ghana are the most instructive – lack of coordination, failed projects that led to disease in areas that were supported by international agencies, and most importantly, the success story at the end, which is often lost in the nonsense that continues to dominate marketing, fundraising and advocacy in the United States.

Poor people will only truly be helped when we can have an honest discussion about what needs to change programmatically to ensure lasting investments, and to clarify the role of external agencies in supporting water sector development overseas. This video is an important step toward a more honest debate and toward more creative solutions that truly transform lives.