Not-for-profit organisation Aqua for All, specialised in innovative finance for water and sanitation, and social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit, are launching a partnership to support water and sanitation financing and provision by partner organisations in Africa and Asia.
Under their new two-year agreement, Aqua for All and Oikocredit will combine market expertise, knowledge and network support to develop the water, sanitation and hygiene (‘WASH’) portfolios of financial inclusion partners in east and west African countries and in Cambodia. Aqua for All will provide up to € 1,500,000 in technical assistance, de-risking and/or performance-based incentives. Oikocredit will invest up to € 15,000,000 in portfolio financing with current and new partner organisations.
The impact investing community increasingly recognises the WASH sector’s importance for human wellbeing, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. Billions of people in low-income countries still lack adequate access to safely managed water and/or sanitation services. Massive private investment is urgently needed to bridge funding and service gaps to reach Sustainable Development Goal 6 of universal access to clean water and sanitation
by 2030.
Josien Sluijs, Managing Director, Aqua for All, said: “Accelerating sustainable access to safe water and proper sanitation requires close collaboration between the WASH sector and the impact investing sector. In Oikocredit we have found a committed partner to boost sector transformation and improve the lives of people in low-income communities. I hope that this partnership will inspire others to combine resources and expertise towards creating a sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation economy.”
Mirjam ‘t Lam, Managing Director, Oikocredit, said: “Oikocredit is delighted to launch a new partnership with Aqua for All. Our two organisations’ approaches are truly complementary. We look forward to working together and with local partners in developing initiatives that improve access to safe water and sanitation for low-income people and their communities.”
