2023 has been a landmark year for Aqua for All as we continue to address the financial and service gaps necessary to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6)—universal access to clean water and sanitation. This year, we successfully contracted the full €40 million entrusted to us by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first five-year phase of our Making Water Count programme.
This achievement was a true team effort, made possible by our partners’ embrace of our innovative approach to the sector. At Aqua for All, we leverage a unique combination of water and sanitation expertise, financial knowledge, and a focus on accelerating market development and catalysing investment.
Our results have exceeded expectations, as we continue to mobilise financing for one of the most underfunded SDGs. If our financial and service partners meet their current commitments, Making Water Count will help provide access to affordable water and sanitation services to 4 million low-income people.
Smart Solutions and a Dual Approach
Since our early days as a straightforward water and sanitation project funder, Aqua for All has grown significantly in methodology, organisation, and impact. Recognising the need for large-scale transformative finance, we have embraced smart, innovative solutions previously untapped in our sector.
Our dual approach demonstrates to asset managers, financial institutions, and foundations that investing in water and sanitation can achieve both social impact and sufficient profitability to sustain further investment. Today, we are achieving much greater leverage by attracting these actors to invest in providing essential services for underserved populations, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Our success is grounded in strong networks, local presence, a culture of learning, and a flexible, adaptive approach. Through ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders and active participation in international events, Aqua for All continues to confirm our role as water- and sanitation game-changers.
The future landscape
As we move towards completion of Making Water Count’s first five years, we firmly believe that collaborating with public and philanthropic funds to catalyse corporate and other private capital will remain crucial to meeting SDG 6. We will continue working to mobilise finance for this goal, broadening the conversation to include more actors such as international corporations.
Challenges of climate change and gender inequity affect water and sanitation more than some other sectors. As long-term climate change effects intensify, we will double support for climate-resilient solutions. Equally important will be the inclusion of more women in decision-making and service delivery and ensuring significantly more benefits accrue to women and girls.
We invite like-minded actors to join us.
Josien Sluijs
Managing Director