Danone Communities, the food group Danone’s investment fund and incubator for social enterprises targeting low-income populations, has announced a new investment in social enterprise Impact Water Nigeria.
The investment comes as part of Danone Communities’ plan to accelerate the development of access to safe drinking water for all, contributing to the United Nations’ 6th Sustainable Development Goal. With all of its investments in social enterprises around the world, Danone’s investment fund currently has more than 3 million beneficiaries. The investment in Impact Water Nigeria marks Danone Communities’ 7th investment in the drinking water sector.
Impact Water Nigeria is a social enterprise which is embarked on a mission to make drinking water available in large-scale schools in Nigeria. Notably, more than 4 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Shockingly, around 90 percent of the water in Nigeria is contaminated with bacteria. Impact Water, which has been operating for several years in Uganda, opened a branch in Nigeria in 2017.
The Impact Water Nigeria is developing an innovative model, including providing water purification equipment that is simple to install and maintain for schools. The model is to install decentralized water treatment units in schools and universities. Impact Water also adapts to the financing capacity of schools, in terms of the accessible price of the equipment as well as the proposed payment terms.
In addition to its impact on health, Impact Water Nigeria also works to improve the environment. Traditionally, schools burned wood to boil drinking water. Burning of wood resulted in smoke which ultimately polluted the environment. But, the water treatment units installed by Impact Water Nigeria prevent schools from burning wood and thus make it possible to create carbon credits.
Impact Water Nigeria has already equipped more than 5,000 schools and universities and provides safe drinking water to around 1.8 million children and students.
