As part of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s commitment to helping create sustainable communities, it announced today the launch of Replenish Africa Initiative’s (RAIN) Multiple Use Water Improvements project.
"At Coca-Cola, we recognize that by strengthening the communities we serve, we strengthen our business. We know that providing water access is an effective way of expanding social and economic opportunities for our communities. As part of our Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) we collaborate with partners from civil society and government to improve the access, sustainability and affordability of safe water in our communities," said Peter Njonjo, Coca-Cola General Manager for Eastern Africa.
The program will support water supply improvements and multiple uses of water (MUS); improve water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools, institutions, and households; and empower women through water-related entrepreneurship, in seven rural woredas of three Ethiopian regions.
Funded by The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation in partnership with Conrad N. Hilton Foundation (CNHF) and Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Water Aid and World Vision, this year-long project is expected to benefit 73,400 rural citizens, including 22,000 school children living in various regions of Ethiopia.
Millennium Water Alliance’s Executive Director, Mr. Rafael Callejas, hopes to harness the momentum surrounding clean water efforts by launching the project during the UN’s International Year of Water Cooperation.
“It is especially exciting to launch this program in 2013, the UN International Year of Water Cooperation. Funded by The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and implemented in collaboration with MWA and its members this program links the strengths and capacities of government, civil society, the private sector and local communities to improve access to clean water and livelihoods in rural Ethiopia,” said Mr. Callejas.
The project is expected to leverage Millennium Water Alliance’s 13 million USD Conrad N. Hilton Foundation (CNHF) program, which is currently being implemented in 25 Woredas in 4 regions by deepening CNHF’s WASH interventions in three critical areas: improvements in multiple uses of water (MUS), water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) coverage in schools and health clinics and women’s empowerment through water‐related entrepreneurship.
