WaterEquity’s milestone of reaching five million people reaffirms the potent impact of merging financial innovation with social purpose. We are grateful for the pivotal role played by our investors, partners, and enterprises across 19 countries including CreditAccess Grameen Limited – a microfinance institution that provides micro-loans to rural Indian women.
Based in Bengaluru, India, CA Grameen focuses on micro-loans for rural women, covering income-generation, home improvement, emergency, and family welfare loans. Since 2016, CA Grameen has turned $38 million into 363K water and sanitation micro-loans benefitting over 1.7 million people in India. These micro-loans address crucial household needs, supporting health, economic security, gender equality, and climate resilience.
Since its inception in 2016, WaterEquity has been dedicated to mobilizing private investments to address the urgent need for safe water and sanitation in emerging markets, while seeking risk-adjusted returns for investors. The milestone of reaching five million people reflects the cumulative deployment of more than $360 million in capital from four investment funds focused on improving last-mile household water and sanitation solutions, such as a piped water connection or a private toilet, and bolstering local water businesses in low-income communities worldwide.
Meet Sahana, a resilient woman from India.
Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of impact investing in the water and sanitation sector.
Sahana hails from Kanakapura, a city in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Without a piped connection at home, access to water proved to be a major struggle. Her only resource was a shared community tank from which she could fill her vessels. But with long wait times and large crowds thronging the area, Sahana struggled to fetch water. Sometimes, she even travelled across villages in search of water, adding to her dire situation.
Sahana had been a customer of CreditAccess Grameen Limited. Determined to find a solution to her crisis, she took out a water loan from the company. She used this loan to purchase raw materials, pay labor charges, and install a piped water connection at home. Now, Sahana and her family can cook, clean, drink water, and more. She even lends a helping hand to her neighbors, allowing them to collect water from her house during emergencies. This easy access to water has brought Sahana much-needed relief, saving her and her family from a life of struggle.
Through its innovative approach to market-driven solutions, WaterEquity aims to catalyze positive change and contribute to the achievement of access to safe water and sanitation for all.
Info shared by CreditAccess Grameen Limited.
Financial performance data across all funds as of 12/31/2023. Social impact data as of 09/30/23.