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A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO RELIABLE WATER AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES

OUR APPROACH

better with water (previously Eau et Vie) acts as a local water operator that provide integrated services to low-income urban communities including safe water through household connections, community empowerment, hygiene awareness and fire-fighting.

Involving stakeholders is an important step to ensure that the development of operations takes into consideration local needs, experiences and interests.

Access to drinking water and hygiene awareness are key levers to improve communities living conditions and require their adherence to the project. Fire prevention and emergency planning ensure safety in these fire-prone areas and protect water infrastructures. Implementation of waste and sanitation services come after to complete the global model and to respond to a local urgent need. The main innovation resides in the single and simplified invoice that facilitates services payment.

OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC MODEL

To meet these complex challenges, better with water has developed a social business model creating a sustainable social value through the combined action of a solidarity NGO and a local service enterprise. After the incubation phase, the company acquires a sustainable economic profile, whose eventual profits are reinvested in the social project.

These organisations work together with a single vision on the same mission, according to the same values.

In each country, the implementation structure consists of:

  • A local NGO department to implement good practices through training (hygiene, fire…) and community empowerment. Thanks to the installation of a reliable water service, the aim is to continue to improve the people’s living conditions.

 

  • A social enterprise to develop local services along with their commercial valuation, through individual water billing and other related services. The objective is the autonomy of economically viable service companies.
Water network system
better with water has developed an innovative water network system to distribute running water to slum dwellers.
Activities Deployed

Water Services

Access to clean water at home. Instead of expensive, poor quality water stored in unsuitable containers, each household is now connected to the water network and has an individual tap, with a regular bill based on consumption and paid at home collections. Systematic quality tests are carried out. This is improving the daily lives of families, especially women, and creating favourable conditions for development.

Community Empowerment

Mobilising and supporting the communities in developing their capacities. Community reinforcement enables each individual to exercise their citizenship and to assert their rights and those of the community in a process of urban inclusion.

Hygiene Awareness

Hygiene awareness sessions organised in schools and public yards. Good hygiene practices are as important as quality infrastructures to improve public health. Diverse topics affecting the inhabitants are addressed: water storage, individual and menstrual hygiene, waste management.

Fire-fighting and emergency management

Fire prevention and emergency plans. Fire hydrants are installed and local volunteer firefighters are trained and equipped. Fire prevention is essential in slums, where fire events are frequent. First aid and basic life support activities are also carried out.

Research and Innovation

To deepen its impact, Eau et Vie is studying and testing new solutions to better manage its operations and offer complementary services at an affordable price (waste, sanitation, electricity) when needs are identified. Proximity, shared billing and joint collection of payments are valuable comparative advantages for beneficiaries. Eau et Vie relies on innovative tools such as the water distribution software, Wamasys, to carry out its mission.