In partnership with the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, the global soft drinks brand will work with the United States Water Partnership (USWP) to advance clean water and sanitation in those African countries facing the greatest challenges.

Coca-Cola’s chief sustainability officer Bea Perez made the announcement at the Rio+20 Conference in Brazil last week.

“Access to safe water is essential for our company and our world. The sustainability of water resources is a top priority at the Coca-Cola Company,” she said.

The USWP is a new public-private partnership, set up on World Water Day last March to unite American expertise, knowledge and resources, and mobilise those assets to address water challenges around the globe, especially in the developing world.

Under the scheme, Coca-Cola will provide support for five African countries where less than half of the population has improved access to clean water. These are Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique and Somaliland.

The funds will support a variety of sustainable water access activities ranging from expanding water access in informal urban settlements to providing water access in hospitals and promoting multiple uses of water that empower women.

As part of this effort, Coca-Cola will provide $500,000 of operational support to the USWP to bring additional resources to African countries characterized as high-need for clean water and sanitation. The USWP will also make the best practices from these RAIN investments widely available to the global water sector.

Maxine Perella

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