RAIN Helps Build a More Resilient Africa by Improving Clean Water Access

by Vikas Vij
Nov 24, 2015 12:30 PM ET

CSRwire

While water is an abundant natural resource, less than three percent of all water on earth is fresh water, and of that amount, over two-thirds is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. Low investments in water infrastructure, rampant wastage and lack of private sector initiative have led to acute water shortages.  About 663 million people in developing countries today do not have access to clean drinking water. According to WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (2015), a child dies from a water-related disease every 90 seconds. 

The World Economic Forum released its Global Risks Report in January 2015, declaring the water crisis as the top global risk based on impact to society (as a measure of devastation). In regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, waterborne diseases and the economic cost involved in gathering water are severely curtailing the real potential of people. 

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Vikas is a staff writer for the Sustainable Development news and editorial section on Justmeans. He is an MBA with 20 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience and global travel. He is the author of "The Power of Money" (Scholars, 2003), a book that presents a revolutionary monetary economic theory on poverty alleviation in the developing world. Vikas is also the official writer for an international social project for developing nations "Decisions for Life" run in collaboration between the ILO, the University of Amsterdam and the Indian Institute of Management.