Women + Water ISC Fact Sheet

India is in the midst of a growing water crisis exacerbated by mismanagement and unsustainable use of water and the Indian apparel industry — one of the largest and most intensive users of water — has a critical role to play as a steward for this resource. Spearheaded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Gap Inc., a global apparel retailer that sources products from about 800 facilities in 30 countries, the Women+Water Alliance (W+W Alliance) is a public-private partnership that aims to improve the health and well-being of women and communities touched by the apparel value chain. The W+W Alliance focuses on changing how water is managed sustainably, as a shared, public resource across the apparel value chain – from communities in cotton growing regions to those surrounding fabric mill producers and garment factories. The W+W Alliance will unlock the potential of women in communities touched by the global apparel industry by bringing together civil society, private sector, government, and USAID to leverage expertise, resources and innovative approaches to address water challenges in India. ISC joins CARE, Water.org, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and Institute for Development Impact (I4DI) as an implementing partner in this critical work.