USAID and Coca-Cola Foundation commission water projects in Abia and Cross River

Long-time development partners USAID and The Coca-Cola Foundation, through their Water and Development Alliance (WADA) global partnership, recently commissioned a project in Nigeria to improve access to safe water and sanitation services in Abia and Cross River States. Partners for Development (PfD), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health, agriculture and economic development initiatives in rural communities around the world, implemented the two-year project.

WADA partners with communities and their governments to address challenges and harness opportunities connected to improved water and sanitation. WADA’s enterprise-driven approach brings together Coca-Cola’s business capabilities with USAID’s premier development expertise to create solutions that develop thriving communities, grow stable economies, and strengthen resilient environments.
According to the JMP/WHO (2015), 59.5 million (33%) Nigerians lack access to safely managed water and over 121 million (67%) Nigerians lack access to safely managed sanitation. Source: https://washdata.org/data. In Nigeria, around 45,000 children under five years old die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. The lack of clean potable water contributes to the high prevalence of waterborne diseases, threatens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and contributes to low levels of school enrollment, especially among girls.

 

In response to these challenges, the WADA Nigeria project has focused on building the capacity of state institutions and local communities to effectively deliver and manage water and sanitation services. This empowers Nigerian people and institutions to fight the effects of unreliable water sources and poor sanitation practices. Improving and expanding water and sanitation services in these communities while focusing on engaging all stakeholders and members of the community has improved the livelihoods and wellbeing for those impacted. Such improved capacity will serve as a critical step in Nigeria’s journey to self-reliance and sustainable development.

WADA Nigeria also worked with the state rural water agencies (RUWASSA) in select local government areas (LGAs), and local communities to build the capacity for effective rural water management. The project aims to transform residents’ lives through establishing and strengthening the capacity of community water, sanitation and hygiene committees (WASHCOMs) to drive the implementation of WASH services and to provide training and support to community groups in WASH facility maintenance, repairs, and management. Multiple activities will contribute to this transformation, including the rehabilitation and construction of water and sanitation infrastructure.
The project will also support the expansion of WASH services and training into a number of community schools, clinics and markets in the 58 project communities.
USAID and Coca-Cola are committed to transforming communities in need to overcome their development challenges and empowering them to sustainably thrive in the 21st century. Learn more about WADA here.

L-R: Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Mission Director, USAID, Mr. Stephen Haykin; Deputy Governor, Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Okochukwu and Eze of Amiyu Uhu Community, Ifeanyi Udeagha during the unveiling of Water and Sanitation facilities in Amiyi Uhu community in Abia state recently.

Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Country Program Director, Partners for Development(PfD), Mr. Ediri Iruaga; Commissioner for Public Utilities and Water Resources, Barrister Chidebere Nwoke; General Manager, Water Board Corporation, Abia state, Mr. Joe Ogbonna; Deputy Governor, Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Okochukwu, Eze of Amiyu Uhu Community, Ifeanyi Udeagha and Mission Director, United States Agency International Development(USAID), Mr. Stephen Haykin during the commissioning of Water and Sanitation facilities in Amiyi Uhu community in Abia state.

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