Unsafe water causes more than 1.2 million deaths every year, and is responsible for around 6% of deaths in low-income countries

It’s also a leading risk factor for infectious diseases, exacerbates malnutrition, and is the most common cause of diarrhoea— which is, in turn, the world’s second-leading cause of child mortality. The problem is particularly acute in poor rural areas, where a lack of infrastructure leaves people to rely on open springs and shallow wells that are easily contaminated by human and animal waste.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

For less than $1.50 per person, per year, Evidence Action provide more than 9 million people with free and reliable access to safe water.

Their uniquely-engineered chlorine dispensers are installed next to commonly-used water sources, enabling people to treat their water using a safe and pre-measured dose of chlorine. The chlorine stays active for 2-3 days, ensuring water doesn’t get recontaminated even when stored at home.

Across rural Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, Evidence Action consistently provide water treatment in areas that aren’t reached by municipal systems – at no cost to users or their communities. By leveraging human-centric design, behavioural economics, community partnerships (including over 100,000 volunteers!) and an efficient last-mile network, they have managed to achieve an average adoption rate of over 60%. They estimate that between 2015-2021, the program averted over 2.8 million cases of diarrhoea among children under five.