International H2O Collaboration: A New Alliance for Sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Projects

The alliance is dedicated to implementing long-term, sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in the developing world. More than one billion people lack access to a safe reliable source of drinking water, and more than two billion lack access to any sanitary means of excreta disposal. Combined with unsafe hygiene practices, the result is nearly 1.8 million deaths — the vast majority children — from diarrhea every year. The alliance is initially developing projects in three countries: the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and the Philippines. These countries were selected based on need as well as the ability and experience of local Rotary clubs and USAID missions to address the challenges faced. The alliance will strategically consider expanding to other countries as it progresses. Funding for the alliance projects will be sought from a variety of sources, with an estimated minimum of US$2 million joint investment per country. Each partner will provide half of the funding, and the alliance will also work actively to raise additional funds from other sources to supplement core project funding. Rotary International/The Rotary Foundation brings institutional strengths and resources to the alliance. Rotary International is the world's first service organization, made up of 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas. Its 1.2 million members make up a global network of business, professional, and community leaders who carry out service projects worldwide. The Rotary Foundation, Rotary's philanthropic arm, awards about $80 million annually for Rotary projects and programs that provide humanitarian aid and promote international understanding. In 2007-08, the Foundation awarded 561 grants totaling $8.6 million for water and sanitation projects throughout the developing world. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives. As part of its overall programming, USAID works to ensure accessible, reliable, and economically sustainable water and sanitation services. In the 2007 fiscal year, USAID obligated $212 million for drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene activities. These investments reflect the urgent need to improve public health, as well as to safeguard water resources for the world's poor. To realize alliance goals, USAID and Rotary International will work together to support the three pillars required for sustainable access and use of improved water supplies and sanitation. These are access to appropriate hardware, behavior change and hygiene promotion, and an enabling environment. The alliance aims to increase water supply and sanitation coverage for the planet's poorest and most vulnerable populations through this collaboration.