USAID, Rotary launch Water Alliance

MANILA, Philippines - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Rotary International (RI) launched yesterday the Water Alliance, a joint initiative to provide Filipinos with access to clean water and sanitation services.

“Increased access to clean water protects health, promotes security, and sustains economic prosperity. The USAID-Rotary International Water Alliance supports the Philippines’ Millennium Development Goal of cutting by half the population without access to clean water and sanitation services by 2015,” said US embassy’s deputy chief of mission Leslie Bassett who led the launching.

The event was highlighted by the awarding of grants to five Rotary Clubs and Districts, namely the Rotary Clubs of Zamboanga City West, Davao City, Dipolog City, and San Fernando, La Union and combined Districts 3810 and 3780, which proposed water supply and sanitation projects for underserved poor communities.  

USAID and the Rotary Foundation provided a total of $ 1.1 million in grant funding for the five projects that will benefit 9,500 people with piped water supply and 168,000 people with improved wastewater treatment services.

These resources are leveraged further with contributions in cash and kind by the participating Rotary Clubs and other partners. 

In 2007, the USAID and RI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreeing to implement joint activities that are in line with shared development goals in countries where they both operate. 

In the World Water Forum held in Istanbul, Turkey on March 16-22 this year, RI and USAID launched the Water Alliance aimed at helping countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals for water supply and basic sanitation.

The Philippines, together with Ghana and Dominican Republic, is part of this partnership, which builds on each organization’s strengths and comparative advantages.

Rotary International brings grant funding to local clubs through its Rotary Foundation; Rotary Clubs bring on-the-ground knowledge of needed projects, management capability, and counterpart funding; and USAID provides technical expertise and technologies, management capability, and resources in cash and kind.    – Pia Lee-Brago