Blended finance
We offer de-risking instruments to funds, asset managers, and financial institutions to incentivise them to grow their water and sanitation portfolio.
Impact foundation & policies
Our impact extends beyond just access to water and sanitation. Our investments create lasting impact for climate resilience, women and girls, health, and infrastructure.
Our Impact
We build on our foundation of over two decades of experience
While a key goal has always been to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation our impact extends beyond just SDG 6. Investments in water and sanitation are key drivers for gender equality in the workforce, access to education for girls, climate resilience of communities, economic productivity of the labour force, improved health and wellbeing, and stronger infrastructure.
Through our unique approach, we take a systems-level perspective to water and sanitation markets. By scaling enterprises, developing the financial ecosystem, building knowledge and capacity, and mobilising private capital, we support countries in building an enabling environment for the transformation of water and sanitation.
For more information about how our unique approach creates lasting impact, explore our Theory of Change with the animation below or read the full publication.
Why market development matters
Our Theory of Change
Access to safe water and sanitation is only the beginning. Our Theory of Change shows how stronger enterprises, increased investment, and resilient markets lead to healthier communities, greater opportunities for women and girls, stronger local economies, and climate-resilient development.
Capacity development
We build the capacity of water and sanitation enterprises to improve their investment-readiness and deepen the understanding of fund managers on water and sanitation as an investable industry.
Result-based grants
We provide smart grants to incentivise water and sanitation enterprises to improve financial and impact elements of their business model.
Gender-International
Climate-resilient
Mobilising finance
Funds and financial institutions increase the amount of finance available for water and sanitation while mobilising private capital.
Improving business models
The improved business model allows SMEs to attract more finance to scale up their business.
- Gender-International
- Climate-resilient
Increasing scale of operations
Through increased access to finance for a sustainable, scalable business model, water and sanitation SMEs expand the scale and reach of their operations.
Our impact
Increased access to safe water and sanitation solutions that are inclusive, affordable, and sustainable.
Reduction of water-borne diseases
Increased school attendance- Chances for women/girls
Economic productivity
Water infrastructure and quality- Climate-resilient communities
Climate
The climate crisis is a water crisis.
Access to climate-resilient water and sanitation is key to increasing the resilience of communities to climate hazards and shocks.
Climate change is directly affecting access to water and sanitation. At the same time, this access is crucial to deal with the ever-increasing effects of climate change on communities. Aqua for All is therefore committed to mobilise capital for climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions.
We integrate climate mitigation into our financing models by encouraging partners to adopt measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes supporting renewable energy solutions, energy-efficient water systems, and wastewater treatment approaches that reduce methane emissions while delivering sustainable water and sanitation services.
Finally, we use a locally led adaptation approach. In working with local SMEs and local financial institutions, we actively support them to find climate solutions that fit their local context and conditions.
For our full commitment to climate action in our work, see our climate policy.
Gender
Gender equality through water.
Women and girls are disproportionally affected by a lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Aqua for All mainstreams gender in all its projects as a key consideration.
Gender is a key cross-cutting theme across our projects. As women and girls are primarily responsible for fetching water in many countries, a lack of access to safe water and sanitation directly impacts their lives. We therefore integrate gender considerations in all of our projects to make sure we contribute to gender equality. We aim for a minimum 50:50 benefit for men and women and often reach higher numbers of female beneficiaries.
We also recognise that female entrepreneurs are facing more difficulties in accessing finance for their water and sanitation businesses. By actively steering on 2X Challenge women-led enterprises, we also stimulate the economic empowerment of women.
For more about our gender approach, see our Gender Policy.
ESG
Contributing to global goals beyond water.
Aqua for All is committed to promoting environmental sustainability, social equity, and strong governance (ESG) practices as integral part to our mission to contribute to global efforts towards facilitating access to clean water and sanitation for all (SDG 6).
As a foundation that supports funds, financial institutions, and enterprises, we recognise the importance of embedding ESG principles in all aspects of our operations and partnerships. We have aligned our ESG policy to the IFC Performance Standards as an international best practice.
We aim to minimise the adverse impacts of our activities and to do no significant harm to people and the planet while striving to create lasting positive impact. Aqua for All recognises that not every partner it works with will be in full compliance with this ESG policy at the date of contract. Aqua for All will seek to work with the grantee or investee to improve compliance over a reasonable time frame, taking into consideration the risks and opportunities specific to the partner, its size, and resources.
Contact us
Let’s build stronger water markets together
Whether you're an enterprise, financial institution, donor, or potential partner, we’d love to explore how we can work together to expand sustainable access to water and sanitation.