Water.org, a nonprofit organization promoting access to clean water in Africa, South Asia and Central America has launched WaterCredit.org, an online resource that seeks to educate interested parties about the growing intersection between international microfinance and water and sanitation needs.
WaterCredit.org will provide resources and learning opportunities targeted at microfinance institutions (MFIs), water and sanitation organizations, social investors, banks, philanthropists, researchers and the general public. By applying the concept and practices of microlending, Water.org seeks to reach people living in poverty with safe water and sanitation at a faster pace than traditional charitable methods.
April Rinne, Water.org’s Director of WaterCredit stated, “As a public resource, WaterCredit.org’s ultimate purpose is to make a comprehensive contribution to the microfinance and water and sanitation communities…We intend to broaden site content over time, and we actively solicit contributions from other organizations and stakeholders working in this space” [1].
By: Alexandra Pattee, Research Associate
About Water.org: Water.org is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 by Matt Damon and Gary White that is headquartered in the United States. The organization aims to provide access to safe water and sanitation in Africa, South Asia and Central America. Its WaterCredit program is a microfinance-based initiative to promote sustainable giving in the sector. As of 2010, Water.org had USD 3.24 million in total assets and operations in 10 countries across 3 continents.
[1] Water.org Press Release, “Water.org Pioneers Microloans for Water and Sanitation Access: Launches WaterCredit.org Site for Cross-Sector Learning”, http://water.org/2011/05/launching-watercredit-org/
MicroCapital.org Article, November 17, 2010, “Water.org, MasterCard Foundation Launch $3.6m Partnership to Boost WaterCredit Program That Uses Microfinance to Increase Access to Clean Water in Africa”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-water-org-mastercard-foundation-launch-3-6m-partnership-to-boost-watercredit-program-that-uses-microfinance-to-increase-access-to-clean-water-in-africa/
MicroCapital.org Article, July 23, 2009, “The Use Of Microfinance To Facilitate Access To Water – Lessons From Water.Org and Its Water Credit Initiatives”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapitalorg-story-the-use-of-microfinance-to-facilitate-access-to-water-lessons-from-waterorg-and-its-water-credit-initiatives/
MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: Water.org, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Water.org
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/
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