Cargill has announced that its Cargill Currents project, operated alongside Global Water Challenge (GWC), has hit the milestone of providing access to safe drinking water for more than 150,000 people.
The Cargill Currents project spans five continents, and demonstrates the ‘power of strategic partnerships and collective action in addressing critical issues in water-stressed regions’, according to Cargill.
The partnership aims to improve water and sanitation access to 500,000 people by the end of the decade.
Success stories
Among the success stories of the Cargill Currents project so far are the provision of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access for 150,000 people across 87 communities in Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana; the empowerment of more than 50,000 women through time savings, skills-building and income-generating activities (women are disproportionately impacted by water scarcity); and enhanced water security in rural Gujarat, India, which has benefited more than 120 acres of farmland, as well as improving livelihoods for over 600 women through agricultural and entrepreneurial training.
‘Resilient and sustainable communities’
“Access to clean water is essential for building resilient and sustainable communities,” commented Pilar Cruz, Cargill’s chief sustainability officer. “By reaching 150,000 individuals with improved water access, we are not only addressing critical water challenges but also boosting climate resiliency, strengthening farmers’ livelihoods and empowering women.
“Achieving this milestone is a testament to the power of our partnership with Global Water Challenge. Together, we are leveraging our combined expertise and resources to drive meaningful and scalable impact around the world.”
As Cargill noted, the success of the project lies with its local approach, tailoring solutions to each community’s specific water access, availability, and quality challenges. Cargill Currents currently has active projects in Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, India and the U.S. and is looking to expand to additional countries in the coming years. Read more here.
