CURRENT SITUATION

In Sub-Saharan Africa, clean drinking water is a particularly precious commodity. Millions of people in the region live without safe access to clean drinking water or basic sanitation. Without a functioning water supply system, the population lacks the basis for personal and economic development.

This is often not due to the natural availability of the resource, but rather the insufficient infrastructure and distribution, lack of know-how and investment. These factors are necessary for a long-term improvement of the situation. This is where WfW comes in.

4 out of 10 people in Sub-Saharan Africa have no access to clean drinking water.

More than every other person has no access to basic sanitation.

Over 200 million school days are lost due to water scarcity.

Up to 2.5% of economic performance is lost due to inadequate sanitary facilities.

Maputo / Johan Mottelson

URBANISATION

Of the 20 countries with the highest urbanisation rates in the world, 17 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is expected that more Africans will live in urban than rural areas for the first time in 2030. However, urban growth is often deregulated and unplanned. To benefit from the enormous potential of urbanisation in the future, targeted measures are needed.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change results in more extreme weather conditions, droughts and floods. This makes food production more difficult and leads to increased unemployment, particularly in rural regions. Hoping to earn a livelihood, many people move to the cities.

INADEQUATE DRAINAGE

In large areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, tropical weather conditions with heavy rains and an extended dry season prevail. Cities, in particular unregulated built-up areas such as compounds (Zambia) or Bairros (Mozambique), lack the infrastructure for drainage. This often leads to severe flooding.

DEMOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT

The population of Sub-Saharan Africa is very young. Due to high birth rates in the last 30 years, half of the population is younger than 18. This demographic dividend holds enourmous potential for the future.

ACTIVITIES

Together with local partner organisations, WfW contributes to the long-term improvement of the water, sanitation and hygiene situation (WASH) in the poorest neighbourhoods of urban areas.

ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER

LOCAL KNOW-HOW

SANITATION & HYGIENE

COUNTRIES

WfW works in economically disadvantaged, urban areas of Zambia and Mozambique. Both countries are located in the south-eastern part of Africa and face enormous challenges in terms of water and sanitation.