Our Lens
Perspectives on Solving the Global Water and Sanitation Crisis
Lessons from South Sudan: Changing Expectations & Strengthening Systems
Two civil wars have put South Sudan behind in terms of national infrastructure—from transportation to electricity to water. Samson Hailu Bekele visited Aqua-Africa’s work in Juba and Nzara to better understand how South Sudan is progressing. Here’s what he learned.
A Blueprint for Climate Financing: Getting the Money to the Right People
The bulk of climate funding has gone to "mitigation" or back to the same countries responsible for climate change.
The 2023 UN Water Conference & How We’re Supporting a BOLD Water Action Agenda
Here’s how Water For People is participating in the UN Water Conference and the conversations–backed by actions–that we hope contribute to that BOLD water action agenda that’s needed.
Why Climate Resilience Matters
Kelly Latham, Senior Global Advisor for Climate and Water Resources, digs into climate resilience, why it matters, and what we can do communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
One For All, a Global Alliance Fighting the Water Crisis
In early 2020, despite the fact that the pandemic was taking hold around the world, a very different, much more hopeful global conversation was taking place between Netherlands-based IRC and Water For People: The work we do together is successful. How can we make our collaborations more strategic and create more impact?
How Do You Stop Cholera Epidemics?
As of February 9, the death toll from cholera in Malawi was more than 1,300. Like many water-borne diseases, cholera is entirely preventable, making the rising death toll in Malawi even more heartbreaking.
It’s Not All Going to Shit. Really.
Water For People’s Shitovation Awards were designed to address the disconnect between the global sanitation crisis and desperately needed innovation. Here are the 2023 grant projects.
From 51 to 1: Criteria for Expanding into a New Country
Samson Bekele, co-CEO of Water For People, shares his vision for Water For People, as he tells us how he created the criteria to select our new partner country in Africa.
Give Some Worms for the Holidays. It Makes a Difference.
Here’s why we chose the five items offered by Water For People in the Light the World Giving Machines this year.
Supporting Entrepreneurs: The Toilet Seller
A major component of Water For People’s approach to ensuring sustainable sanitation is supporting locally-led sanitation businesses. These businesses are developed by entrepreneurs to fill a gap in the market, providing families with safe, affordable, and uninterrupted sanitation services because providers are local, not miles away.
Women collectively spend
200 million hours
each day collecting water.
In 7 out of 10 households without water access, women and girls are primarily responsible for water collection.
In some rural regions of India, women can take up to six trips a day, walking 6,570 miles a year for water..