Coca-Cola bolsters clean water & sanitation programme in Africa

Coca-Cola is expanding its clean water and sanitation programme in African schools and health clinics together with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The global soft drinks giant’s Water and Development Alliance (WADA) says it will provide more than 190,000 people with better water and improved sanitation services by the end of 2015.

In Nigeria, at least 65,000 people will benefit from the installation of hand-pump boreholes, improved sanitation facilities, hand-washing stations and rain harvesters at schools and health care facilities. Communities will also be trained in the long-term maintenance of the infrastructure and water management committees will be offered capacity building services.

In Zambia, the project will provide sanitation facilities and hygiene education in schools in peri-urban Lusaka, benefiting up to 50,000 school children. The project includes resource mobilization strategies to support the long-term operations and maintenance of the schools' water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. It is also expected that this project will provide sustainable clean water access to up to 44,000 people through community water kiosks and a distribution network.

In Ghana, more than 35,000 people will benefit from the construction of clean water kiosks and sanitation services to include the provision of total sanitation marketing campaigns.

"Water stewardship is a key priority for our business and we are committed to returning the water we use in our beverages and their production back to communities," said Muhtar Kent, chairman and ceo, The Coca-Cola Company. "We are pleased to launch the next phase of impact with one of our longest standing and most valued partners, USAID. Expanding our work together will help bring safe water to thousands of people in communities we serve and continue to bring us closer to meeting our replenishment goal."

“This important public-private partnership builds on our Agency's new and first-ever Water and Development Strategy to improve health and food security across the world. Its programs represent the next generation of this vital alliance - helping families lift themselves out of poverty and communities onto a path towards sustainable development," added Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator.