
Vision
Our Vision is that all people have sustainable access to safe water.
Mission
Global Water Center (GWC) is accelerating the end of water poverty through cross-sector collective action. We aim to strengthen and scale the work of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) organizations with clear standards, contextualized training, system monitoring, and inter-organization collaboration. We are committed to ensuring longevity in water systems and securing safe water for all. Reducing the number of people who lack access to safe water from 2 Billion to zero.
The Context for the Mission of the Global Water Center
Since 2000, the world has advanced toward the goal of safe water for all. In 2020, 74% of the world’s population had access to safe water. This is 10% more with access than two decades previous. Yet, 25% of the global population still lacks a safe and secure source of water. This is a staggering global crisis.
There is however an emerging crisis, even though the world had thought that we had begun to solve the previous ones. Shockingly, over 30% of the global rural water systems are failing at any given time. This means that hundreds of millions of people are once again left without access to safe and secure water, leading to waterborne diseases that claim up to 829,000 lives every year, missed opportunities for education for young girls, and families trapped in extreme poverty.
A 30% failure rate is also incredibly expensive for all involved, from funders to implementers to communities. Eleven billion dollars ($11.1B) are wasted every year due to failing systems. (Source: The Costs of Meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). We are catalyzing a collective action initiative throughout the global WASH sector to increase the implementation of safe water projects and accelerate the race to end the global water crisis.
THE QUESTION
Why collective action?
Improving and sustaining the performance
of a water system is transformative over
time.
The money invested is exponentially more
efficient and has a long-lasting impact.
Sustained transformation at scale demands
collective action among many people,
organizations and partners.
Recent News
Training and Mentoring: Part of our Vision
At the Global Water Center (GWC), we want everyone to have access to safely managed water. We are working toward this vision by accelerating the professionalization of the rural water sector through capacity development and technical services achieved through...
GWC Continues Education Efforts in Ghana & India
In our September newsletter, you will find updates on the Ghana Water Education Project, Solar Powered Water Systems training in India, invitation to connect at UNC Water and Health Conference next month, and GWC hiring news. Our team at the Global Water...
GWC Building Relationships at World Water Week
Some highlights within this newsletter include connections made at World Water Week, Solar-Powered Water Systems Training continues in India, developing initiatives in Zanzibar and Uganda, and GWC is hiring. Our team at the Global Water Center collaborates to develop,...