WaterPartners

Infobox Organization
name = WaterPartners International


size = 180px
caption =
formation = 1990
extinction =
type = Developmental aid organization
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leader_title = Executive Director
leader_name = Gary White
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website = http://www.water.org/

WaterPartners International is a U.S.-based nonprofit developmental aid organization tasked with the specific purpose of providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries. Founded in 1990, it has since provided safe drinking water and sanitation to more than 200 communities in eight countries – Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, India, Kenya, and the Philippines. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/12/03/daily35.html Ex-Aquila COO Stamm takes job with nonprofit] , KC Business Journal, December 6, 2007] The organization's co-founder and current executive director Gary White [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/123150/group_fights_to_deliver_water_to_the_poor/index.html Group Fights to Deliver Water to the Poor] , AP, January 30, 2005] is also a founding board member of the Global Water Challenge [ [http://www.globalwaterchallenge.org/resources/story-3.php Kenya: Sustaining and Scaling School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene] , Global Water Challenge, December 13, 2006] and Water Advocates. [ [http://wateradvocates.org/bod.htm Water Advocates] ]

Approach

WaterPartners' approach to implementing water projects involves four key components:
# forging partnerships with local partner organizations in the countries it serves
# involving the community at each stage of the project
# selecting technology appropriate to the local community and their particular situation
# integrating all projects with health and hygiene education.

The organization conducts monitoring, evaluation, and original research programs. It has initiated third-party evaluations of its programs to determine how it is fulfilling its mission [ [http://water.org/FileUploads/SustainabilityStudySummary.pdf Community Water Systems Sustainability Study] , Lempira, Honduras, Emory University, October 1, 2006] .

WaterPartners' stated vision is to work towards providing safe drinking water to everyone in the world. [ [http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=September&x=20060921155304IHecuoR0.3472559 US Organization Helps People in Honduras Access Safe Water] , US Department of State, September 21, 2006] . Currently, approximately one in six people on earth lack access to safe source of drinking water [ [http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=07-P13-00033&segmentID=4 Water Diaries] , Living on Earth, PRI, August 17, 2007] [ [http://www.water.org/FileUploads/WPIN_2007_10_Aware.pdf WaterPartners International - Ethiopia] , Aware Magazine, October 1, 2007] . More than two billion people lack access to basic sanitation [ [http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/11/no-joke-its-wor.html No joke: It's World Toilet Day] , USA Today November 19, 2007] .

WaterCredit

WaterPartners projects are funded through grants, loans, or a combination of the two. Its loan program is called WaterCredit [ [http://www.needmagazine.com/Issue03/NEED03_FUTURE.pdf Future - Clean Water Solutions] , Need Magazine, page 10, October 1, 2007] . It uses the concept of microcredit to fund water sanitation projects [ [http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-03/2006-03-28-voa48.cfm?CFID=106693164&CFTOKEN=46309719 Water Projects Sustain Hope and Life in Developing Countries] , Voice of America, March 28, 2006] [ [http://www.twfindia.com/environmentDetail1_14.01.07.asp A Thirsty World] , Trans World Features India, January 24, 2007] . Funding water supply projects through a combination of grants and loans is a new approach to the water sector. Until recently, almost all water projects facilitated by other nongovernmental organizations have been funded entirely by grants, even when the individuals served by the project have the means to share costs.

WaterPartners has received grants from organizations such as the PepsiCo Foundation [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122244674302979203.html Coalition Pledges $400 Million For Clean Water, Sanitation] , Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2008] , The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119679987030413446.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Firm Decisions] , Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2007] , and Open Square Foundation (previously called the Agora Foundation) [Grants to Aid Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education Overseas: a Sampling, [http://philanthropy.com/summary/v20/i01.htm Chronicle of Philanthropy] , October 18, 2007] .

See also

*International development
*Water crisis

References

External links

* [http://www.water.org WaterPartners International]
* [http://environment.about.com/od/environmentalevents/a/waterdayqa.htm World Water Day: A Billion People Worldwide Lack Safe Drinking Water] , Larry White, About.com
* [http://www.msdf.org/mediacenter/Release.aspx?ID=79 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to Innovative Nonprofit Solving Global Water Crisis] , November 30, 2004.