Private Sector Approaches to Water Management for the Poor: Innovations in Microfinance Series
VIEW EVENT DETAILSApproximately 1.1 billion people lack clean water supplies and 2.7 billion have no access to proper sanitation. To combat conditions that lead to sickness and disease, low income families across Asia are asking for clean water and improved sanitation to keep their families healthy and productive. Sophisticated modern piped water networks are too expensive for most developing countries and poor people living in the slums often pay 5 to 10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. Sensing a business opportunity, microfinance organizations are beginning to explore the market for making water more accessible to the poor. Learn about innovative private sector microfinance approaches to water management that have been used for a range of purposes from purchasing household water connections and clean water storage units, like rainwater harvesting tanks to the construction of household latrines. Opening remarks by Bruce Schlein, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability Unit, Citi Panelists: Rama K., Senior Vice President, Basix Claire Lyons, Manager, PepsiCo Foundation Paul Sathianathan, Executive Director, Gramalaya Urban and Rural Development Initiatives and Network (GUARDIAN) (India) Kurt Soderlund, CEO, Safe Water Network (USA) Gary White, Executive Director and Co-founder, WaterPartners International (USA) Moderator: Nicola Armacost, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Arc Finance