Water For Good kicks off 3-year plan – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Communities across parts of Africa and Asia stand to gain reliable water sources and better health outcomes if a new three-year strategy from the Bentonville nonprofit succeeds. Water For Good has outlined plans to nearly double the number of people it reaches each year with sustainable water systems, sanitation improvements, and hygiene education. The effort comes at a time when hundreds of millions still lack basic access to safe drinking water, and many existing systems fail due to ongoing maintenance issues.
The Scale of Unmet Needs
Worldwide, roughly 696 million people do not have basic water access, according to the organization’s own assessment. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, about 60 percent of water systems sit idle because of repair and upkeep challenges. These gaps translate into daily hardships for families who must travel long distances or rely on unsafe sources, often leading to preventable illnesses.
Water For Good’s work has already shown measurable results in the areas where it operates. Its programs have delivered a median 90 percent drop in childhood diarrheal disease rates and maintained a 90 percent functionality rate for the water systems it supports. The new plan builds on that record by aiming to extend similar benefits to far more people.
Ambitious Targets Through 2028
The nonprofit currently serves about 1.35 million people annually and expects that figure to climb above 2.6 million by the end of 2028. To reach those numbers, Water For Good will raise and deploy $44.1 million over the three-year period. That total includes a $5 million reserve for unexpected costs.
The organization operates in five countries spanning Africa and Asia. Its approach centers on the Vision of a Healthy Village model, which combines water access, sanitation facilities, hygiene training, and continuous maintenance into one coordinated system. This integrated method is intended to produce lasting improvements rather than short-term fixes.
Four Core Priorities
The strategy rests on four main areas of work. First, the nonprofit will expand its water access and community health programs. Second, it will scale up operations and maintenance services to keep systems running reliably. Third, it will offer technical assistance to local partners and governments. Fourth, it will test a new drilling enterprise in Ethiopia to help close infrastructure shortfalls.
These priorities reflect a deliberate shift toward long-term reliability. By focusing on maintenance and technical support, Water For Good hopes to reduce the high failure rates that plague many water projects in the regions it serves. The drilling initiative in Ethiopia represents an effort to address supply-side bottlenecks directly.
Staffing and Operational Footprint
Water For Good currently employs 263 people. Of those, 26 work in the United States, with 10 based remotely and 16 at the organization’s Bentonville office. The remaining staff are located in the countries where programs run, allowing day-to-day decisions to stay close to the communities involved.
This structure supports both fundraising and on-the-ground delivery. The U.S. team handles much of the resource development needed to meet the $44.1 million goal, while field staff focus on implementation and monitoring.
Looking Ahead
Success will depend on steady funding and strong local partnerships. If the targets are met, millions more people could experience fewer water-related illnesses and greater stability in their daily lives. The plan represents a measured response to persistent global challenges rather than a quick fix.
