New Aqua for All and Oikocredit partnership to invest in community water and sanitation

The Hague and Amersfoort, the Netherlands – Not-for-profit organisation Aqua for All, specialised in innovative finance for water and sanitation, and social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit, are launching a partnership to support water and sanitation financing and provision by partner organisations in Africa and Asia.

Under their new two-year agreement, Aqua for All and Oikocredit will combine market expertise, knowledge and network support to develop the water, sanitation and hygiene (‘WASH’) portfolios of financial inclusion partners in east and west African countries and in Cambodia. Aqua for All will provide up to € 1,500,000 in technical assistance, de-risking and/or a performance-based incentives. Oikocredit will invest up to € 15,000,000 in portfolio financing with current and new partner organisations.

The impact investing community increasingly recognises the WASH sector’s importance for human wellbeing, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. Billions of people in low-income countries still lack adequate access to safely managed water and/or sanitation services. Massive private investment is urgently needed to bridge funding and service gaps to reach Sustainable Development Goal 6 of universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.

Josien Sluijs, Managing Director, Aqua for All, said: “Accelerating sustainable access to safe water and proper sanitation requires close collaboration between the WASH sector and the impact investing sector. In Oikocredit we have found a committed partner to boost sector transformation and improve the lives of  people in low-income communities. I hope that this partnership will inspire others  to combine resources and expertise towards creating a sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation economy.”

Mirjam ‘t Lam, Managing Director, Oikocredit, said: “Oikocredit is delighted to launch a new partnership with Aqua for All. Our two organisations’ approaches are truly complementary. We look forward to working together and with local partners in developing initiatives that improve access to safe water and sanitation for low-income people and their communities.”                                                                                                       

About Aqua for All

Aqua for All is a not-for-profit organisation. For over two decades, it has worked towards catalysing an innovative, sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation economy worldwide.  Aqua for All operates in Africa and Asia supporting innovations and scaling up enterprises until they are investment ready without distorting the market. In addition, it uses its funds to mobilise private and public capital to increase investments in water and sanitation. For more information see: http://www.aquaforall.org/

About Oikocredit

Social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit has 45 years of experience funding organisations active in financial inclusion, agriculture and renewable energy.

Oikocredit’s loans, equity investments and capacity building aim to enable people on low incomes in Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve their living standards sustainably.

Oikocredit finances close to 508 partners, with total outstanding capital of € 1,264.4 million (March 2022). For more information see: www.oikocredit.coop. 

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Note for editors

For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Jasmin Panjeta, Communications Manager, Oikocredit International, telephone: +31 33 422 4040, email: jpanjeta@oikocredit.org.

Blanca Méndez, Communications Manager, Aqua for All, telephone +31 70 7200 870, email: b.mendez@aquaforall.org.