Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)

Nearly 900 million city-dwellers worldwide lack access to safe water or sanitation. By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, with 90% of urban growth expected to take place in developing regions. As informal settlements on the edge of towns and cities in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia grow, so does the number of people lacking access to water and sanitation. This has severe impacts on the environment, health, livelihoods and economic growth.

We work alongside local governments and service providers, enabling them to develop services, build infrastructure and attract investment to reach low-income areas. To ensure services can sustainably reach as many people as possible we focus on financial viability. This means working with utilities and businesses on services that generate revenue whilst reaching vulnerable urban residents and advising regulators and governments on how to create an environment in which businesses can thrive.