In the nexus of water and energy for food (WE4F) in emerging markets, innovators are pioneering creative business models that improve the lives of communities in the base of the pyramid (BOP) while generating profit to scale further and accelerate their efforts. Working in the BOP market segment in rural communities is difficult.
USAID is working to improve the lives of millions of people around the globe by addressing the most basic of human needs—access to water and sanitation.
To address the complex challenges of sustainable rural water service delivery, Whave has been testing a model for the provision of preventive maintenance services. Whave’s approach focuses on results-based payment for avoiding breakdowns, rather than payment for repairs. By incentivizing performance, their goal is to establish a system that reduces water source downtime and therefore improves the reliability of water supply systems. Whave is currently operating in more than 400 communities across Uganda.
This blog originally appeared on PSI’s website.
Paul Kpadonou began his career as an entrepreneur on the side of the highway.
As he sold garden decorations from his roadside business, Paul dreamed of creating a successful enterprise in his suburban town of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. His shot at prosperity came with the “WC Mimin” brand of toilets, which he discovered during a campaign promoting the product.
This blog originally appeared on Climatelinks.
Climate change worsens familiar challenges to water and sanitation services, including limited access and poor infrastructure. Innovative approaches, such as games to inform sanitation enterprise development, have the potential to catalyze local solutions for sanitation.
Morocco’s water supply is under pressure due to increased population, urbanization, economic development, and climate change. Recognizing water as a national security issue for Morocco and its neighbors, USAID and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have partnered to use innovation and technology to establish state of the art and sustainable water management practices in Morocco through the H2O Maghreb activity.
In late August, the Women + Water Alliance came together at the Stockholm International Water Institute’s World Water Week to emphasize the important role women play in helping alleviate the global water crisis.
Their session titled, “Catalyzing Women’s Leadership to Advance WASH Adoption” shared the context of how women as agents of change can help promote water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in communities touched by the apparel industry.
This desk review from the USAID/WASHPaLS project
Water is a vital resource for business and a critical fuel for economic growth and prosperity. From energy and minerals to manufacturing and agriculture, water is an essential ingredient to the food we eat and the products we use every day. Yet, we are facing a major water challenge globally. Groundwater basins are drying up, droughts are becoming more common, and growing populations are overloading outdated water systems.
