The Crisis
Right now, hundreds of millions of people do not have access to clean water, decent toilets or good hygiene. This is ruining lives and holding back development.
Water
Can you imagine life without clean water to drink?
Every person needs a sustainable supply of clean water: for drinking, washing, cooking and cleaning. It’s a basic human right.
However, to date, governments, institutions, service providers and donors around the world haven’t done enough to ensure clean water reaches the poorest and most marginalised people.
In many countries, taps, wells and pipes delivering clean water simply don’t exist. Even where they do, water supply services are often not affordable or accessible, or aren’t designed to last.
Sanitation
A decent toilet is something everyone should take for granted at home, school, work and in public places. It’s a basic human right that protects people from dangerous diseases and provides dignity.
Governments have neglected sanitation for too long, resulting in a severe lack of finance, skills, resources and systems to ensure everyone has access to a decent toilet.
Hygiene
Many people are unaware that good hygiene is a lifesaver.
Something as simple as handwashing with soap reduces cases of diarrhea. Good hygiene maximizes the benefits of clean water and decent toilets, keeping people healthy for generations to come.
Yet, hygiene promotion schemes, where they exist, often fail to change entrenched practices, such as going to the toilet in open areas around the community. They also often don’t address cultural taboos, such as menstrual health and hygiene training for young women. And even when people have the knowledge to make positive changes, they often lack soap or access to washing facilities.
Building services that last
Selecting the right technology is critical. But there also needs to be a strong system in place to turn policies into action, attract finance and maintain services. Otherwise there’s a risk that the benefits of clean water and decent toilets stop flowing.
We’re focused on ensuring that water and sanitation services continue to work over time.