Archive for category: Water

, ,

Updates on SDG 6 in Burkina Faso

SDG 6 in Burkina FasoBordering the Sahara Desert, Burkina Faso is a West African nation within one of the fastest heating climates in the world. Burkinabe people in rural areas are especially vulnerable to reduced water access with as many as two thirds unable to access clean drinking water reliably. The sweeping reforms current administration leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré made have prioritized the donation of machinery, vehicles and equipment to local rural communities. With the added donation of training and construction supplies, Faso Mêbo is a government program that is expanding access to clean drinking water in Burkina Faso and aims to empower rural communities to keep change sustainable. These reforms mark important updates on SDG 6 in Burkina Faso, particularly in relation to rural water access and public infrastructure development.

Water Access in Burkina Faso

Between 2000 and 2022, Burkina Faso was the only West African nation where the proportion of people with access to clean drinking water decreased.  The United Nations aims to end global poverty through shared targets for 17 key factors. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), SDG 6 sets out targets for Clean Water and Sanitation. Recent updates on SDG 6 in Burkina Faso show that one cannot separate water access from security, governance and climate pressures.

Since armed conflict with insurgent forces began in 2016, access to clean drinking water in Burkina Faso has deep ties to security. The militant group JNIM in particular has been ramping up attacks against water infrastructure, such as water transport trucks and village water pumps, since 2022. Researchers Zoltán Ködmön and Júlia Szőke for Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (2025) show evidence of a strong geographical link between water facilities hit by militants and regions where communities accessing cannot access clean drinking water on a regular basis, indicating that solving this crisis has to be multifaceted. They argue that “sustainable water security can only be achieved to a certain extent, as the work, the money spent over many years and the results achieved can be destroyed by armed groups in no time.”

A general reduction in rainfall, hotter weather and crops failing due to sudden temperature changes characterize an increasingly volatile West African climate. As the climate crisis worsens, rural communities become more reliant on often expensive irrigation reforms to survive. Traoré’s initiative to restore water storage infrastructure to its previous capacity shows a commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing SDG 6 in Burkina Faso

A recent trend of government policy sees local communities undertake the construction of water reforms across Burkina Faso using materials and vehicles the administration donated for irrigation and hydro-agriculture. This is a departure that signals an increased willingness to cooperate with rural groups the Compaoré administration had alienated in the decades prior and align with Ködmön and Szőke’s recommendation that “decentralizing water governance and building local institutional capacities—particularly in conflict affected areas—[is] essential for improving long-term resilience.”

An increased focus on water development in the North is essential to the well-being of the poorest in Burkina Faso. The African Development Bank (ADB), since the 2015 change from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals, has funded more projects in the Nord and Sahel provinces but the imbalance of funding still remains.

Looking Ahead

Updates on SDG 6 in Burkina Faso imply that clean water access is a technical and environmental challenge and also a question of class, security, and sovereignty. The Traoré administration’s turn toward public ownership, decentralized governance and mass participation represents a rupture with neoliberal development models that have ultimately failed the rural poor in Burkina Faso in the past. By placing infrastructure, training and decision-making power directly in the hands of communities, Faso Mêbo demonstrates that collective ownership and international co-operation can achieve sustainable development.

– Zoey Cruz

Zoey is based in Bedfordshire, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, ,

New Boreholes: Hope for Women in the Central African Republic

BoreholesRosalie, a 17-year-old girl, is now free to go to school and pursue her dream of becoming a midwife. She no longer has to collect unsafe water from the river to use for drinking and washing. Rosalie and her community have access to clean water for the very first time because NGOs, along with the government of the Central African Republic (CAR), completed a new borehole in her village in 2020. “It’s like a miracle to see drinking water in this village,” she said.

Far Reaching Impacts

Access to clean water in the CAR has a far-reaching impact, particularly for women and children. In fact, World Vision donors in Canada funded this project with the intention of improving community health, increasing incomes and reducing gender-based violence in the CAR. Reports show that 97% of women experienced gender-based violence.

Other impacts of access to clean water in the CAR include a drastic reduction in typhoid fever and diarrhea, the leading causes of child and infant mortality in the western part of the CAR. For context, only 36% of people in the area had access to clean water and just 14% had access to sanitation before these projects began. Madeleine, a 56-year-old mother of eight, lost two of her children due to waterborne illnesses.

Before these new boreholes, they used river water contaminated with farm waste and soil runoff. “Dirty water has been the cause of too many of our children’s deaths and miscarriages in many pregnant women,” she said.

Government and Agency Collaboration

The World Vision project, now in its sixth year, has built or renovated 15 boreholes near Bozoum. It also marked the first time any NGO or governmental organization made improvements in the local villages. Residents are grateful that their long wait for safe water is over.

With more than one million people served by these boreholes, Jean-Marc Dewerpe, head of Cooperation and Trust Fund Manager of the Bêkou Fund at the European Union Delegation, referred to this partnership as “an alliance serving the people.” Because only 37% of the CAR’s total population has access to clean water, the European Union funded a UNICEF project. The project aims to increase the operational capacity of the National Agency for Water and Sanitation, a government agency in the CAR, to enable the creation of new sources of clean drinking water.

Not Just Equipment

To this end, a donor provided the agency with a high-capacity drilling rig, which will significantly increase its ability to drill boreholes and develop other clean water sources. Felix Ackebo, UNICEF’s representative to the CAR, commented on the rig’s importance and impact: “It’s not just a piece of technical equipment. It is a beacon of hope for rural communities, a tool for dignity, health and lasting peace for every child and every family,” he said.

The task of water collection no longer governs the lives of women like Rosalie and Madeline. Access to clean, safe drinking water increases village autonomy and empowers women and young people. The current projects are expected to continue and expand to other villages.

– Caleb Dueck

Caleb is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Benin

Poverty Eradication in BeninInnovations in poverty eradication in Benin are essential, as nearly 40% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Poverty affects rural communities most severely, where the poverty rate rises to 44.2%. Rapid population growth of 2.7% and a high fertility rate of 4.8 children per woman place additional strain on families and public services. Many households struggle to access basic necessities such as food, clean water and electricity, making it difficult to break the cycle of poverty.

Benin has made meaningful progress in reducing poverty by combining environmental planning, entrepreneurship and public investment. While many families still struggle with low incomes and limited opportunities, new approaches focused on sustainability and economic inclusion have begun to improve daily life for vulnerable communities.

Located in West Africa, Benin faces ongoing challenges such as changing weather patterns, job scarcity and income inequality. These pressures fall hardest on rural communities, where agriculture remains the main source of income. In response, the government and development partners have introduced innovative solutions designed not only to reduce poverty but also to create long-term stability.

Building a Green and Sustainable Economy

Over the past decade, Benin has aligned its national development strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the country has built a strong foundation for a green transition by investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient infrastructure. These investments aim to reduce environmental risk while supporting economic growth.

For farmers across Benin, changing weather patterns have made daily life increasingly uncertain. Unpredictable rainfall, flooding and soil degradation threaten harvests and household incomes. Agriculture employs a large share of the rural population, yet food insecurity remains widespread. More than 547,000 people are classified as severely food insecure, and nearly 83% of households cannot afford a healthy diet, placing farming families at high risk of falling deeper into poverty.

The focus on climate-resilient agriculture has proven especially important for rural households. Unpredictable rainfall and land degradation threaten food production and income stability for farmers.

Since the launch of Benin’s national development plan in 2019, the government has promoted practices that improve soil quality and conserve water. These efforts include agroforestry, crop rotation, conservation agriculture and improved water management techniques. Together, these changes help protect farmland from erosion and allow crops to survive droughts, irregular rainfall and flooding.

Simultaneously, improving water quality has strengthened these efforts to reduce poverty. Access to safe drinking water lowers the risk of waterborne diseases that can keep children out of school and prevent adults from working. Programs that build wells and water systems in rural communities have improved public health and allowed families to spend more time on farming and other income-generating activities.

Improving Clean Water Access

Government and donor-supported water programs have expanded wells and rural water systems, improving access to clean drinking water. One significant initiative is the AQUA‑VIE Rural Water Supply Universal Access Program-for-Results, supported by the World Bank, which provides household connections, standpipes, and sustainable water systems to more than three million rural residents. With less time spent collecting water or dealing with illness, families can focus more on farming, education and income-generating activities.

As food security improves, families face fewer economic disruptions and gain greater financial stability. These changes help prevent households from falling deeper into poverty and allow communities to plan for the future with more confidence.

Supporting Entrepreneurs to Create Jobs

Entrepreneurship has become another key driver of poverty reduction in Benin. Organizations such as TechnoServe support small business owners by providing training, access to markets and financial guidance. These programs focus on entrepreneurs who often lack resources, including women and young people.

In recent years, TechnoServe-supported programs in Benin have helped more than 110,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses increase their revenue and economic outcomes, including through agricultural market access and business development, while generating more than $58 million in financial benefits for local communities.

As small businesses grow, they create jobs and generate income beyond a single household. Entrepreneurs who succeed often hire workers from their communities, strengthening local economies and reducing unemployment. This ripple effect allows economic benefits to reach a wider population.

A focus on long-term business growth allows entrepreneurship programs to move beyond short-term assistance and help communities build self-sustaining economic systems. These efforts play a critical role in innovations in poverty eradication in Benin.

Government Policies That Protect Vulnerable Groups

Government policy has also played a central role in reducing poverty. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Benin has improved how it manages public spending while increasing investment in education, health care and social protection programs. These reforms aim to balance economic growth with social support.

Education remains a major priority, as more than half of Benin’s population is illiterate. While free primary education has increased enrollment to 97%, approximately 30% of children drop out before completing school, with girls disproportionately affected. In response, the government and international partners are expanding vocational training programs to better prepare young people for the workforce.

Health care and social protection play a crucial role in improving life outcomes for vulnerable families. Since under-five mortality remains above 80 deaths per 1,000 children and average life expectancy is just 60 years, access to quality health services is critical. National school feeding programs supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) provide children with proper nutrition and support their education while building resilience that strengthens families and communities over time.

Education and vocational training programs help young people develop skills that match labor market needs. Additionally, social protection initiatives provide support to families facing economic hardship. Collectively, these programs strengthen human capital and improve long-term economic resilience.

By investing in people and public services, Benin has created a more stable foundation for the eradication of poverty. These policies support sustainable growth and reduce vulnerability to future economic shocks.

A Positive Path Forward

Benin’s progress shows how combining environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship and public investment can lead to lasting change. Rather than relying on a single solution, the country has adopted a coordinated approach that addresses poverty from multiple angles.

Economic growth climbed to 7.5% in 2024 while poverty fell to 31%. In light of ongoing reforms in taxation, social protection and climate resilience, thousands of people have the potential to be lifted out of poverty each year. While challenges remain, innovations in poverty eradication in Benin serve as a hopeful model for how developing nations can improve living standards while building a brighter and more promising future.

– Anaisha Kundu

Anaisha is based in Skillman, New Jersey, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

,

Using Social Impact Bonds For Clean Water Projects in East Africa

social impact bonds for clean waterIn parts of East Africa, a new borehole or piped connection can change daily life fast. A reliable tap can mean fewer sick days, more time for school and more hours for work. Yet many water utilities and local governments still struggle to raise the upfront capital needed to build and maintain systems at scale.

That gap has opened the door for a financing idea that is starting to reshape development funding conversations: social impact bonds for clean water. Social impact bonds for clean water, also called pay-for-success financing, flip the usual spending order. Instead of paying for inputs first and hoping for results later, the model links repayment to independently verified outcomes.

How Pay-For-Success Financing Works

Results-based financing ties funding to pre-agreed results and pays once those results are achieved and verified. In a typical social impact bond structure, three roles show up again and again:

  • Investors provide the upfront money that lets a project start now, not years later.
  • Service providers build or deliver solutions, such as new household connections, filtration systems or network upgrades.
  • Outcome payers repay investors only if the project hits agreed targets, using independent verification to reduce disputes.

Because payments depend on measured performance, social impact bonds for clean water appeal to funders who want stronger accountability and to investors who are willing to take on risk when the metrics are clear.

What Counts as “Results” in Water Projects

Clean water outcomes are not just about “infrastructure built.” In pay-for-success models, the focus is on what that infrastructure delivers in real life. This includes households gaining first-time access to clean or reliable water. It also covers whether water points remain functional and reliable over time.

Other outcomes include reduced exposure to unsafe water, which lowers the risk of waterborne diseases. Time savings also matter when water is closer, more dependable or available on-site. The “time saved” piece is especially relevant in rural and peri-urban areas where water collection still shapes daily schedules. UNICEF has estimated that women and girls collectively spend 200 million hours every day collecting water.

Health impacts are part of the same equation. WHO tracks the disease burden tied to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene and links unsafe WASH to major preventable illnesses and deaths.

A Real Example in East Africa: Uganda’s “Social Success Note”

One of the clearest East African examples of outcome-tied water financing comes from Uganda, where a pay-for-success instrument called a “Social Success Note” was designed to expand clean water access in schools. Climate Policy Initiative describes the model as a five-year loan that began in 2018, starting with a $500,000 working-capital loan from UBS Optimus Foundation to support Impact Water’s installation of purification systems. In that structure, schools repay the loan using savings from reduced fuel costs that would otherwise be used to boil water.

At the same time, outcome payments and incentives adjust based on performance targets. The same case study reports that the program installed systems in 600 schools. It also set a goal to determine whether Impact Water could provide an additional 1.4 million children with access to clean, safe water over the term.

This is where social impact bonds for clean water start to look like a “new market” tool. The project’s monitoring and evaluation role is built into the financing and payments are tied to outcomes that a third party can track.

Why Investors Pay Attention

Traditional water infrastructure finance often depends on public budgets, donor grants or concessional loans. Pay-for-success models add a different lever: performance risk can shift toward investors, while public or philanthropic outcome payers commit to pay for verified results. For investors, the pitch is not only social.

It is also about clarity. When metrics are defined and verification is credible, capital can move into areas often described as “hard to finance.” There is also a broader economic case for scaling water access.

The World Bank notes that access to clean water and sanitation improves public health and frees up time, enabling more people, especially women, to participate in the workforce. The same World Bank overview states that every $1 spent on water supply and sanitation in Africa generates a $7 return.

Clean Water Infrastructure Still Matters: Tanzania’s Market Signal

Not every private-capital tool in East Africa is a pay-for-success contract. However, the momentum around “investable” water projects is real. In Tanzania, the U.N. Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) highlighted a subnational green bond issued for Tanga’s water utility, with proceeds aimed at expanding and strengthening water services. UNCDF reports that the bond’s plan included extending the distribution network by 60 kilometers.

It also involved connecting 6,000 new households and rehabilitating 110 kilometers of old piping to reduce water losses. UNCDF also states that around 26,000 people are expected to gain access to clean water for the first time through the upgrades. That is not a social impact bond in itself.

However, it shows how water projects can be structured to attract investors, which is the same direction that social impact bonds for clean water aim to take.

Why This Model Is Becoming a “New Market” Tool

Results-based financing has become a major approach to development spending, in part because it promises greater accountability and clearer incentives. The World Bank describes results-based financing as linking funding to verified results and notes that the approach has grown to a market of more than $25 billion in development spending. For East Africa’s clean water needs, social impact bonds for clean water sit at the intersection of that trend and a basic reality: water systems need long-term money for construction, maintenance and reliability, not just short-term projects.

If outcome-based contracts can consistently show that households gain reliable access, children in schools can drink safely and communities save time while reducing disease risk, pay-for-success financing begins to look less like an experiment. Instead, it becomes an investable pathway for scaling water solutions.

– Aiden Moriarty

Aiden is based in Rowley, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

Clean Water and Empowerment: Women-led WASH in Nepal

Women-led WASH in NepalIn the rural town of Thantikandh, Nepal, women once sat at the ends of water and sanitary decisions. Now, they are leading efforts to bring safe water and toilets to their community. Supported by SNV Netherlands Development Organization, the local WASH Coordination Committee is recognized for including Nepal’s women and people with disabilities in leadership. Within just 18 months, the area saw a sudden increase in participation in planning safe water access and cleanliness programs.

Chair of the WASH-CC, Mr. Dhir Bahadur Shahi, says, “Previously, we had little knowledge about the particular WASH needs of people with disabilities and women. The Disability Inclusive Development (DID) training, the inclusive WASH assessment and several activities organized by the WfW-BFL project sensitized us. These motivated us to include people with disabilities and women in the WASH-CC at [both] the rural municipality and ward levels.”

Women at the Helm

Across Nepal, women are leading a quiet yet powerful revolution in water and sanitation. In one of the SNV-supported programs, 20 out of 24 hamlets (tole) in Nepal are now managed by women-led WASH committees. In fact, these groups oversee everything from water safety to menstrual hygiene programs and public toilets.

Since placing women in charge of decision-making, projects have seen stronger follow-through and more sustainable outcomes. What was once considered “household work” has now become community leadership, as these women guide a future focused on reducing disease, saving time and improving livelihoods.

The Water and Poverty Connection

While access to water in Nepal has improved dramatically, challenges still remain. UNICEF reports that 95% of Nepalis now use an improved water source; however, 71% of all the water sources and more than 90% of those used by the most vulnerable group are contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. Furthermore, a recent BMC Public Health study among the Indigenous Kumal community revealed that 40% of households use surface water as their primary source of water.

Unsafe water leads directly to disease and a missed income, as women often bear the heaviest burden and walking long distances for clean water may still make families sick.

Solutions in Motion

To close these gaps, inclusive programs are changing the way water projects are managed. The Water for Women Fund’s partnership with SNV has reached more than 52,800 people in Nepal through community-led water and sanitation programs. These projects prioritize Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), ensuring women, people with disabilities and marginalized groups lead the way.

In Sarlahi District, women now head 20 of the 24 local water management committees. Their duties include overseeing sanitation campaigns, managing water billing and advocating for menstrual hygiene in schools. These systems have shifted WASH efforts from temporary aid to sustainable and locally owned solutions.

Beyond Access To Real Empowerment

Water access is only one part of the story, as empowerment fills the remainder. Indeed, through programs like SNV’s “Family Leadership” initiative, women now serve as chairpersons of local WASH committees and lead community outreach. In several Indigenous communities of Nepal, women manage sanitation systems, maintain toilets and run health workshops that reach hundreds of households.

This leadership has built significant trust within communities and strengthened local governments’ capacity to sustain progress. As SNV’s field reports note, women’s involvement has turned WASH work from a top-down effort into a community-driven movement.

The Bigger Picture

Nepal’s journey toward clean water and sanitation is as much about equity as it is infrastructure. With women-led WASH in Nepal, the country is improving health, education and economic opportunities, particularly for those who have long been excluded from decision-making. From Thantikandh to Sarlahi, women have demonstrated that access to clean water can also unlock opportunities for power, dignity and change. Nepal’s progress offers a model for how inclusive leadership can turn basic.

– Tiana Hermes

Tiana is based in Boulder, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Solar-Powered Desalination: Turning Sunlight Into Safe Water

Solar-Powered DesalinationIn coastal regions of East Africa and East Asia, the sea offers abundance, but not in drinking water. As droughts intensify and saltwater seeps into freshwater reserves, millions of people face a daily struggle to find clean water. For many, the ocean itself is both a symbol of hope and hardship.

Solar-powered desalination systems, machines that turn seawater into safe, drinkable water using solar energy, are emerging as a lifeline for communities long left behind by traditional infrastructure. Affordable, sustainable and independent from fossil fuels, these technologies are redefining what survival looks like in a changing climate.

When the Ocean Becomes a Barrier

According to the U.N., more than 2 billion people worldwide live in areas under high water stress. In regions like coastal Kenya, Indonesia and the Philippines, climate instability is pushing freshwater scarcity to new extremes. Prolonged droughts have dried up rivers and wells, while rising sea levels contaminate groundwater with salt.

In some villages in Kenya’s Lamu County, women walk up to 10 kilometers daily to collect brackish water, risking illness and exhaustion. In Bangladesh’s coastal belt, more than 20 million people live in areas where water is too saline to drink. The combination of poverty, geography and environmental collapse has made clean water a privilege, not a right.

For decades, desalination was viewed as a solution only accessible to wealthy nations like Saudi Arabia and Singapore because it is costly, energy-intensive and highly complex. However, solar-powered innovations are changing that equation.

Turning Sunlight Into Water

Solar-powered desalination works by harnessing sunlight to evaporate seawater and condense it into fresh water or by powering reverse-osmosis pumps that filter salt out. The beauty of this system lies in its simplicity: it doesn’t require fossil fuels or expensive electrical grids. One of the most successful examples opened up on the coasts of Kiunga, Kenya, where a pilot project led by the GivePower organization now provides more than 75,000 liters of clean water daily. Panels capture sunlight, feeding power to compact desalination units that can run continuously, even during grid outages.

In the Philippines, a local project supported by Nexus for Development and OREEi installed a small-scale solar-powered desalination plant on Malalison Island. It is designed to serve about 200 households with clean drinking water and reduce reliance on plastic-bottled imports. While the exact daily yield wasn’t publicly specified, this model shows how solar desalination is making inroads even in remote coastal fishing communities.

These systems not only supply clean water but also improve public health. In rural Tanzania, a community-based study found that improved drinking-water storage, separation of water sources and waste management practices were significantly associated with a lower risk of diarrhea among children under 5. While the study did not focus exclusively on solar desalination, it highlights the health benefits that can be achieved when safe water access improves in water-stressed rural areas.

The Human Cost of Water Scarcity

Water scarcity does not just affect hydration; it shapes education, health and opportunity. In many rural households, children (especially girls) spend hours each day fetching water instead of attending school. Farmers abandon fields when irrigation fails and hospitals struggle to sanitize equipment. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 500,000 deaths annually are linked to unsafe drinking water.

When desalination becomes local and sustainable, it doesn’t just quench thirst; it restores human potential. Yet, despite these benefits, progress is uneven. Installation costs, though lower than traditional plants, still challenge poor villages. Maintenance requires training and spare parts that rural communities often lack. Some systems fall into disrepair after just a few years, highlighting the need for long-term investment rather than short-term charity.

A New Model for Climate Resilience

International organizations are beginning to take notice. The UNDP, UNICEF and the World Bank have all cited solar desalination as a promising tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 6: clean water and sanitation for all.

Zanzibar has deployed solar-powered desalination, most visibly at Mnazi Moja Hospital on Unguja and in the Uzi Island communities, reducing its reliance on diesel power and bottled water. Meanwhile, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where saltwater intrusion poses a threat to rice farmers, small-scale solar filters are being adapted to serve both household and agricultural needs.

Still, the global response remains slow compared to the urgency on the ground. Climate finance often flows toward mitigation, reducing emissions, rather than adaptation, which helps people survive its effects. For families who can’t drink, cook or farm, adaptation is survival itself.

What Needs To Change

To make solar desalination accessible and lasting, several steps are crucial:

  • Expand local manufacturing: Building systems domestically lowers costs and creates jobs.
  • Train community operators: Sustainability depends on local ownership and technical knowledge.
  • Integrate with public policy: National water strategies must include renewable desalination, not treat it as a niche solution.
  • Prioritize rural investment: Villages most affected by climate instability must be first in line for clean water innovation.

A Future Powered by the Sun

The sun shines abundantly over the very regions most desperate for water. Harnessing it is not just an environmental choice, it’s an act of justice. Solar-powered desalination offers a glimpse of a future where technology and equity align, where no child misses school to fetch water and where no family drinks from a contaminated well. The ocean may separate nations, but for millions along its shores, it could soon unite them in hope, resilience and the simple right to clean water.

– Marina Martin

Marina is based in Rapid City, SD, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Zero Day Droughts

Zero Day DroughtsAcross the entire world, millions of people are approaching a point known as Day Zero. This is the specific moment when a region or city runs out of water and taps go dry, crops wither and livelihoods collapse. Day Zero droughts are more than just environmental disasters; they are also drivers of poverty and hunger and they are reshaping lives across many countries, including Somalia, Yemen and Haiti.

Water scarcity is something that has many different, far-reaching effects. Without water, livestock die, agriculture fails and food prices soar. In many vulnerable regions that are currently battling conflict and poverty, a Day Zero event can quickly become a full-blown humanitarian crisis. In Somalia, currently, less than 30% of the Somali population has access to clean water. This means that many rural Somali households have to rely on expensive and unsustainable means to access clean, usable water.

The Link Between Poverty and Water

Somalia has had five consecutive failed rainy seasons, which have all but devastated pastures and farmlands. As crops start to fail and animals start to die, many communities lose their primary sources of income and food and families are forced to migrate in search of the most important things they need to survive: food and water. Many families are forced to end up in overcrowded displacement camps and have little access to sustainable agriculture or drinking water, which causes hunger to spread and poverty to deepen.

In Yemen, which is one of the most water-scarce countries in the entire world, the ongoing conflict has completely damaged its water infrastructure. More than 90% of the available water resources are used for agriculture; inefficiencies or depletion of groundwater can threaten not only crops but also rural communities’ survival. Many households in the country often rely on trucked-in water, which can be expensive and consume much of their income. This leaves many families unable to afford enough food as the decline in agriculture drives up the prices of food across the entire country.

In Haiti, a combination of hurricanes and droughts has destroyed much of the country’s farmland and disrupted its rural livelihoods entirely. Many farmers struggle to even irrigate their crops, which leads to widespread hunger and crop failure. As the cycle of drought and disaster repeats, it keeps many rural communities unable to recover between crises and trapped in poverty.

The Global Impact of Day Zero Droughts

Day Zero droughts don’t just mean empty taps, but they also mean empty plates. When water disappears and food production drops, farming collapses and hunger also increases. As the effects of climate instability accelerate, Day Zero droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, increasingly threatening global food security as well.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization. It works to save lives in emergencies and uses food assistance to build a pathway to stability, peace and prosperity for individuals recovering from conflict, disasters and climate-related disasters. This organization has a presence in more than 120 countries and works tirelessly to bring life-saving resources to people in need.

According to the WFP, 319 million people are acutely hungry and famine looms for 1.9 million worldwide. It also reports that climate extremes are a key driver of food insecurity and that the climate crisis is exacerbating hunger for many people in need.

Innovative Solutions Bringing Hope

Despite this severe crisis, many communities are working to implement innovative solutions that can combine sustainable agriculture, clean water access and community-led, local governance. In Somalia, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are currently collaborating on a project to help provide sustainable water access for drought-affected communities. The project promises to help more than 120,000 people by harnessing solar energy.

This project aims to strengthen local water governance, ensuring that local communities have access to sustainable sources of water. Additionally, the World Bank’s Somalia Urban Resilience Project Phase II is designed to strengthen urban resilience in Somalia. It aims to rebuild infrastructure, improve water supply and support displaced and drought-affected families.

In Yemen, the UNDP’s Integrated Water Resources Management to Enhance Resilience of Agriculture and Food Security Project (IWRM-ERA) is working to strengthen the country’s food security and agricultural resilience. It does so by ensuring efficient, equitable and sustainable water resource management. The UNDP is also trying to build community wells, improve water harvesting and protect farmland from disastrous floods.

In Haiti, the World Bank approved an $80 million grant to improve rural access to decentralized, sustainable and resilient water and sanitation services. The funding will also expand access to resilient and sustainable water systems across rural communities. Additionally, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is supporting the Trois-Rivieres region with a project that combines sustainable agriculture, flood control and better governance for water and land management.

How US Aid Can Help

The U.S. can play a pivotal role in helping prevent future droughts. By supporting sustainable water infrastructure, climate adaptation and drought resilience through international aid, the U.S. can make a lasting difference. U.S. funding for projects like drought-resistant crops, irrigation systems and water governance has the potential to not only save lives but also strengthen global food security.

Additionally, these investments have the potential to create stable, self-sufficient communities that can be better equipped to face the challenges at hand.

– Madyn Lewis

Madyn is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, , ,

Improvements in Water Quality in Egypt

Water Quality in EgyptEgypt is advancing water quality through initiatives that boost safe drinking-water access, modernize irrigation and expand wastewater treatment. It is also scaling up seawater desalination to reduce dependence on the Nile and cut pollution.

Water Stress in Egypt

Egypt is among the world’s most water-stressed nations, with about 98% of its water drawn from the Nile. As of 2018, per capita freshwater availability fell to 570 cubic meters annually, well below the 1,000-cubic-meter scarcity threshold. This shortage is worsened by Ethiopia’s construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a growing population, climate instability and Egypt’s reliance of more than 90% on a single water source: the Nile.

Expanding infrastructure, diversifying sources and strengthening monitoring have become central to its Vision 2030 roadmap and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal 6. Here are five key ways the country is improving water quality:

Home Connections Bring Safe Water Indoors

UNICEF reported providing safe drinking water to more than 17,800 rural households in Assiut, Sohag, Fayoum, Minia and Qena, enabling them to connect to piped water. It also partners with the “Water is Life” initiative to support further expansion and establish a revolving fund mechanism to sustain implementation. The program has reached an estimated 90,000 people, including hygiene training in schools and communities.

Revolving funds designed to make water connections more affordable continue to expand to nearby underserved districts.

Community Filtration Units Reduce Contamination

The Sawiris Foundation’s “Water Is Life” program operates 27 community water treatment stations in Upper Egypt, serving 11,600 families across Minia, Assiut, Sohag and Qena. These stations draw filtered groundwater through central pipelines. They are paired with behavior change campaigns that help sustain adoption rates above 90%.

Buried Pipe Irrigation Boosts Downstream Quality

The World Bank reported that its “Farm-level Irrigation Modernization Project” converted more than 65,000 hectares of open canals into buried piping systems powered by electric pumps across the Delta canals. About 207,600 users now benefit from improved irrigation equity and water quality, with tail-end access rising from 50% to 85% of the intended flow.

Africa’s Largest Wastewater Plant

The Bahr al Baqar treatment plant began operating in 2021 with the capacity to treat 5.6 million cubic meters per day of municipal and agricultural wastewater. Instead of discharging untreated water into the Nile Delta, it now irrigates roughly 140,000 hectares of farmland in Sinai.

Public-Private Desalination Expands Safe Coastal Supply

With advisory support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Egypt’s Sovereign Fund plans to build 21 seawater desalination plants by 2050. The first phase aims to deliver 3.3 million cubic meters per day, eventually rising to 8.8 million per day, to reduce pressure on Nile sources in coastal governorates.

Despite persistent constraints, including but not limited to aging networks, soil salinity, rapid population growth, financing and the coordination behind these efforts, Egypt is making measurable headway. The country now treats more wastewater, connects more homes and reduces contamination at its sources, signalling progress toward Vision 2030’s clean water goals and improved health for millions.

– Maryam Qutbuddin

Maryam is based in Reading, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Solar Water Projects Bring Brazil and Peru Clean Water

Clean WaterA quiet but transformative shift is underway in remote Amazonian regions of Brazil and Peru. Indigenous leaders, long dependent on polluted rivers for drinking water, have partnered with local nonprofits and engineers to launch solar-powered purification systems.

Since 2022, projects like the Huni Kuin “Mothers of the Amazon” initiative and Munduruku-led community systems have provided clean, safe water to entire villages in Brazil and Peru. These efforts are cutting down waterborne diseases and freeing women and children from hours of daily walks to unsafe sources.

The innovation is more than technical; it is deeply cultural. By combining ancestral knowledge of the rivers with renewable energy expertise, Indigenous leaders are shaping solutions that respect tradition and modern science. This approach not only restores health and dignity to their communities but also builds resilience in the face of climate threats like droughts and flooding, which are increasingly common in the Amazon.

From Scarcity to Security

Before these projects, waterborne illnesses, diarrhea and parasites were widespread in many Amazonian villages, especially among children. Dependence on untreated rivers left communities vulnerable to mining, agriculture and waste pollution. Women and children often spend several hours each day collecting unsafe water, losing time for school, work or cultural activities.

Now solar-powered purification units filter and store clean water directly in the community, reducing illness and allowing families to thrive. Villagers report fewer medical emergencies and stronger school attendance among children. The systems are also built to be locally maintained with Indigenous technicians trained to manage repairs, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Technology Rooted in Tradition

While the equipment is modern, adoption is guided by Indigenous governance. In Ecuador’s Amazon, the Achuar deliberately chose solar power through communal processes. They consult elders and hold guayusa tea ceremonies to guide the adoption of solar-powered boats. Similarly, Waorani, Kofan, Siona and Siekopai communities built and maintained their own rainwater systems. These models ensure technology complements cultural practices and strengthens sovereignty by keeping decisions in Indigenous hands rather than outside aid.

The combination of solar energy and traditional stewardship highlights a larger truth: technology is most powerful when adapted to local realities. For these Amazonian communities, the solar systems are not just machines but symbols of resilience, bridging old and new in a way that protects people and ecosystems.

A Future of Water Justice

NGOs are partnering with more villages across the Amazon Basin to bring these solar and water systems everywhere over the next decade. Governments in Brazil and Peru are paying attention and considering how this Indigenous-led model could shape national clean water access policies for rural and Indigenous communities.

For communities that have historically been left out of infrastructure planning, this change represents more than access to water; it means justice. Clean water powered by the sun and led by Indigenous leadership proves that dignity and sustainability can flow hand in hand.

– Marina Martin

Marina is based in Rapid City, SD, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Programs Driving River Cleanups in India

River Cleanups in IndiaHome to approximately 1.5 billion people, India has the highest population of any country in the world. Stretching more than 1.269 million square miles (3.3 million square kilometers), it is the seventh-largest country in the world by area. It is home to several climates, including snowy mountain ranges, deserts, flat plains and tropical rainforests.

India’s Pollution Crisis

Due to its large population and industrialization, India has consistently ranked as one of the most polluted countries in the world. In 2024, India ranked fifth on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and 120 out of 122 on the Water Quality Index. Only one-fifth of India’s industrial waste is processed and disposed of properly, leading its citizens to dump waste into rivers.

Every year, millions of tons of waste, sewage and runoff collect in these rivers, resulting in terrible smells, contamination and health issues from water-borne illnesses like cholera, hepatitis A, dysentery and typhoid.

India’s Water Scarcity Challenge

Despite being home to 18% of the world’s population and 400 rivers, India remains one of the most water-stressed countries globally. About 600 million Indians, nearly half the population, face water-related challenges such as contamination and limited access. Around 70% of rivers are polluted with sewage and industrial waste, while 75% of rural households, totaling 63.4 million people, lack access to safe water. Environmental experts in India warn that by 2030, the country’s water demand could be twice the available supply.

The lack of clean water affects all aspects of life in India, especially agriculture, on which 70% of households depend for their livelihoods. About 52% of the sector still relies on rainfall, as groundwater is rapidly depleting across the country. Given India’s intense monsoon season and high rainfall, rainwater harvesting remains the only reliable method for many farmers to secure clean, usable water for food production.

However, India’s agricultural industry doesn’t just affect the country itself. India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of milk and legumes and the second-largest producer of cattle, rice, fruit, cotton and sugarcane. The lack of clean water impacts every part of the environment, hindering domestic crop production and global food accessibility.

River Cleanups in India

Fortunately, several initiatives in India and beyond are working to clean up the country’s most polluted rivers and expand access to safe water for its citizens. Below are some key programs tackling India’s water crisis:

  • The River Cities Alliance (RCA): Launched in 2021 by the United Nations, the RCA invests in river cleanups across polluted cities worldwide and in India, it works closely with the Namami Ganga Mission, a government-led effort to restore the Ganga River, the country’s third-longest river. The RCA program is scheduled to end by March 2026.
  • Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation: Founded in Mumbai, a city burdened with 13 of the world’s 144 most polluted river systems, the foundation partners with global organizations to achieve two main goals: removing plastic pollution from rivers and oceans and preventing further plastic inflow into Mumbai’s waterways.
  • The Ocean Cleanup: Founded by Dutch innovator Boyan Slat, this initiative deploys fleets of riverboats to collect plastic waste from rivers and oceans. Since 2024, in partnership with the Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation, The Ocean Cleanup has intercepted millions of tons of plastic from Mumbai’s rivers before entering the Indian Ocean.

Conclusion

India’s water crisis stems from rapid growth, industrialization, and agricultural pressures, but progress is possible. Initiatives like those above prove that collective action can restore rivers, protect health, and secure livelihoods.

– Zoe Alatsas

Zoe is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr