Coca-Cola’s WASH programme reaches out to six million people in Africa
WASHINGTON DC — Water security is critical to building resilient communities and economic empowerment across Africa. As part of its week-long celebration of World Water Day (March 22), The Coca-Cola Foundation ( TCCF) announced the achievement of the Replenish Africa Initiative’s (RAIN) current goal to improve access to clean water for six million people.
RAIN, launched in 2009, is TCCF’s agship clean water programme in Africa contributing to helping countries across the continent achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals on clean water and sanitation (SDG 6).
Today’s six million person achievement is the result of a collective e ort from over 300 international and local public, private and civil society partners.
As part of the celebrations for World Water Day 2021, RAIN partners gathered virtually today for a panel discussion to mark the achievement of the programme and share best practices for replication from the programme.
“RAIN is a testament to the power of collective action,” said Bea Perez, TCCF chair and president.
“Working with our partners, RAIN’s transformative impact can be felt today in 4 000 African communities. This programme drives impact for the Sustainable Development Goals and our focus on people, communities, and the environment.”
Over the course of the past decade, RAIN has improved access to clean water for communities, schools, and clinics across 41 African countries as well as enhanced access to hygiene and promoted better hygiene behaviours.
The programme has also enabled the economic empowerment of people by creating opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and skills generation.
In addition, RAIN has helped to protect critical watersheds, supported several African utilities in coping with the rapidly growing water demand in cities, and delivered essential hygiene items and personal protective equipment to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
RAIN has developed a number of important learning and recommendations, including emphasise partnerships with urban and peri-urban utilities to help increase their capacity to better serve Africa’s expanding urban environments as well as accelerate integrated water resources management e orts to decrease stress on food production, water supply and sanitation services.
Bulawayo City Council this year received US$50 000 from TCCF for the implementation of a water and sanitation project to provide clean and safe water in Emakhandeni to mitigate Covid-19 cases.
The project is set to bene t Emakhandeni, Old Pumula, Pumula South and Magwegwe North.
Other programmes under the RAIN project include enhancing source protection for priority watersheds that serve the drinking water needs of millions of Africans as well as addressing the gender gap and focusing on the needs of women who play a critical role in community resilience and are uniquely empowered by WASH access.
RAIN also seeks to improve the collection, accessibility, sharing and use of data to monitor WASH services, improve performance, planning and decision making as well as support civil society and communities to help build resilience to water-related climate change impacts.
“Africa is experiencing the highest rate of urban growth globally and is home to 21 of the world’s 30 fastestgrowing cities,” said Bruno Pietracci, president for TCCF’s Africa operating unit.
“Africa is also more vulnerable to climate change than any other region. The Coca-Cola Foundation is committed to working with communities and governments to enhance climate change adaptation and help address the challenges that urbanisation creates for the delivery of clean water and sanitation throughout the continent.”
— BY STYLE REPORTER/COCA-COLA FOUNDATION