Since 2002, Nestlé has partnered with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in rural communities of our supply chain in Africa.
In the cocoa-growing region of Côte d’Ivoire, Nestlé launched activities to improve health and hygiene awareness, including monitoring and improving water quality and infrastructure, providing or renovating sanitation facilities, and raising awareness through hygiene awareness programmes in villages and schools.
In 2016, Nestlé developed a plan for continuing the projects in Côte d’Ivoire, while supporting the IFRC to roll-out WASH activities in Ghana.
In 2016, Nestlé concluded the fourth phase of activities in Côte d’Ivoire while supporting the IFRC in its roll-out of WASH activities in Ghana.
The Ghana Sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project (Gha-WASH) aims to provide rural populations in the Eastern and Ashanti regions with access to WASH by 2017.
Gha-WASH has the potential to increase access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for 76300 people in schools and communities, and provide training in water safety.
Country(ies) where the intervention is taking place
Cote D’ivoire and Ghana.
Nestle with the IFRC.
Focuses on improving WASH in nestle’s agricultural supply chains stemming from efforts arising from its Nestle Cocoa plan in Cote D’ivoire and Ghana.
Objective by 2016: 350000 beneficiaries in local communities have access to water, sanitation or hygiene projects around our manufacturing facilities and in key agricultural supply chains.
Scope of intervention
Which elements of WASH are covered?
Water, hygiene awareness, hand washing facilities, toilets.
Which elements of the Framework for Business Action on WASH are covered?
Taking Action and working with others.
Indicators/metrics that have been developed to track progress
Number of inputs and beneficiaries (number of latrines, students reached, etc.). Baseline assessment looks like # of households, children, water points that lack sanitation, clean water, etc.
The evaluation process
Third party with IFRC.
Government partners and/or the local policy environment
Alludes to some cooperation with local government authorities.
Outcomes, successes and ongoing challenges
Nestlé/IFRC partnership on WASH – key achievements 2007 to 2016 (overall partnership total):
Water pumps repaired or rehabilitated: 183
Family latrines built: 8,475
Water and Sanitation Committees established: 321
Access to water: Number of beneficiaries 109,990
Access to sanitation: Number of beneficiaries 87,775
Hand-washing facilities created: 3,277
Hygiene awareness for community members: 143,227
School latrines built or repaired: 118
Hand-washing facilities provided in schools: 390
School hygiene clubs established: 93
Children who received hygiene awareness training: 71,465
Nestlé and IFRC are now working to scale the approach and its benefits in Ghana through the $620,000 Gha-WASH initiative. In order to track the impacts of this work, the IFRC/ Nestlé Initiative has established baselines on existing WASH coverage in the focal areas of Eastern and Ashanti Regions. These are summarized along with the programme activities below.
Gha-WASH activities will include:
- Contribute to SDG6 through increased access to sustainable, equitable water services
- Increase access to adequate, equitable and safely managed sanitation and hygiene facilities and improved ODF (Open Defecation Free) status.
- Increase awareness and encourage behavioral change management of WASH and hygiene related diseases.
- Improve technical and managerial capacity of main partners – government, communities and local private sector entities – to manage WASH projects.
- Leverage private, public and NGO coordination and cooperation for improved WASH service delivery.
Investor benefits Nestlé save costs by increasing the efficiency of water use. Investing in zero water factories can help us avoid future costly relocations. Protecting water resources helps protect the future of Nestlé Waters business and helps ensure that the sourcing of raw materials remains competitive. Applying WASH practices can positively impact productivity by improving the health and wellness of Nestlé employees and communities, and reducing lost working days.
Links to learn more
Carlo Galli (Technical and Strategic Adviser for Water Resources at Nestlé’s Corporate Head Office in Vevey, Switzerland)
Christian Vousvouras (Water Specialist – Public Affairs, Nestlé)