Delivering sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes
Water-Share Ireland is an alliance of Irish water sector stakeholders collaborating with GOAL to deliver sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes to vulnerable communities in developing countries. WASH programmes are vital for the well-being of communities across the globe. Everyone needs clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and washing.
This strategic collaboration incorporates funding, technical resources and expertise.
Why Water-Share?
Water-Share Ireland members are helping to amplify GOAL’s WASH programming in the world's most vulnerable communities. By tapping into the talent, commitment and generosity of their employees Irish companies are helping to transform thousands of lives every day.
In the words of Jerry Grant, Founder and Chairman, Water-Share Ireland, "My visits to Uganda and Sierra Leone with GOAL highlighted how this collaboration, using the skills and expertise of the sector, can deliver major benefits in terms of drinking water supply, faecal sludge management, training and capability building in rural communities.
The impact of the collaboration hit home when I visited the Macca community in Sierra Leone and the community leader pointed to the smiling healthy children who before were constantly falling ill and not thriving."
The problem in numbers
Every 2 minutes
a child dies from a preventable diarrhoea-related disease
2 billion
people lack access to safe drinking water
3.6 billion
people lack access to safe sanitation
494 million
people are forced to practice open defecation
"In its delivery of basic services to communities who need them, Water-Share Ireland gives sector companies and staff a unique opportunity for cross-sector collaboration, benefitting both recipient communities and those contributing to the work.” continued Jerry Grant.
Key achievements
- Technical design of rural water systems in Uganda and Zimbabwe
- First ever ‘pilot’ faecal sludge treatment system in Freetown, Sierra Leone
- First phase of a major rural water project in southeast Uganda
Want to get involved?
Water-Share Ireland is seeking new members from the public and private sectors to reach more families with life-saving support. In 2023 we hope to raise an additional €60,000 to improve access to water and sanitation services in the world's most vulnerable communities.
Companies are offered the following Membership options:
Water-Share Patron: Commitment to annual funding of €5,000, which can include services in kind on projects (staff input, materials, research, or secretariat facilities). Each patron is invited to nominate one member to the Water-Share Steering Committee.
Water-Share Supporter: Commitment to annual funding of €1,000 with staff afforded full opportunity to engage in the work where the opportunity is identified.
Please contact Jerry or John today to find out how your company can help transform lives.
John Gowenwatershare@goal.ie+353 89 463 0953
Jerry Grantwatershare@jerrygrant.ie+353 87 234 9554
What Water-Share Ireland membership means
Niall Gleeson, CEO, Uisce Eireann, Barry O'Connell, Chairman, GOAL, Siobhan Walsh, CEO, GOAL and Jerry Grant, Chairman, Water-Share Ireland
The success of Water-Share Ireland projects benefits thousands of people every day. Together, we are improving water quality, providing access to safe water and sanitation solutions for so many vulnerable communities in the developing world.
This meaningful engagement with Water- Share Ireland companies not only offers your employees an opportunity to help GOAL deliver essential WASH programmes to people in need, but members also experience a tangible confluence between their businesses and GOAL’s development work. This can fulfil CSR objectives and can help enrich colleagues’ work experiences. Together, we are working in alliance to deliver on UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation for all.
Water-Share Ireland contributes to the work of GOAL through a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby funds from sector members are transmitted directly to GOAL and accounted for as a separate funding stream. The Water-Share Ireland Committee notes and approves allocations of funding to projects and receives and responds to requests for support. Sector companies can make meaningful contributions to the projects and involve staff where there is a good skill-set overlap. This sector has a shared commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) benefits in their values and purpose. Water-Share Ireland gives meaningful expression to those values.
