Rio+20: $500m pledged to address global water challenges

The US Water Partnership (USWP) has forged partnerships with public and private companies during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) conference in Brazil, and have pledged to contribute $500m towards addressing vital water-related challenges across the globe.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton first announced the partnership back in March 2012 to the support of 41 members, including government agencies, academic organisations, water coalitions, NGOs and the private sector.

Clinton commented on the financial news, "I am proud to announce that the American people are doing our part by coming together through the US Water Partnership, a public-private partnership that is pooling resources and mobilising American expertise, knowledge, and ingenuity to address water challenges around the globe, especially in developing countries where needs are the greatest."

Some of the USWP members include World Vision, which will contribute $400m towards implementing best practices for water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in Haiti, India and West Africa

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) will invest at least $150m in the next one to two years to improve desalination and distribution infrastructure while the Nature Conservancy (TNC) will invest $30m in the next five years to advance integrated water resource management.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intends to invest $21m in the next five years on research and application activities that contributing to the understanding and improved management of our global water resources.

The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation plans to contribute $3.5m towards providing sustainable safe water access in five African countries.

USWP works towards providing access to knowledge, technical assistance and training and partnership development services all towards securing water availability around the world.