The Coca-Cola Company Commits $3.5 Million to U.S. Water Partnership
Announces Signature Initiative to Support Clean Water, Sanitation in African Countries
RIO DE JANIERO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Coca-Cola Company and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation today announced a $3.5 million (USD) commitment to the United States Water Partnership (USWP) to advance sustainable water access in African countries facing the greatest clean water challenges. Bea Perez, the Company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, made the announcement at the Rio+20 Conference in Brazil where participants are working to shape policy on global poverty reduction, social equity advancement and environmental protection.
“Access to safe water is essential for our company and our world. The sustainability of water resources is a top priority at The Coca-Cola Company,” said Bea Perez. “We are honored to support the U.S. Water Partnership while being a catalyst for sustainable water access solutions in Africa.”
The USWP was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on World Water Day 2012. This public-private partnership was established to unite American expertise, knowledge and resources, and mobilize those assets to address water challenges around the globe, especially in the developing world.
“The U.S. Water Partnership is about connecting people and resources, making information easily accessible, reducing transaction costs, and leveraging the assets of partners to offer a range of U.S.-based approaches and solutions tailored to key water needs. Whether it is improved access to knowledge and technical training, or mobilizing experts and resources, the partnership aims to provide integrated solutions to water challenges around the world,” said Secretary Clinton. “We very much appreciate the leadership of Coca-Cola in providing new resources to the U.S. Water Partnership, and for their investments in clean water access in African countries of great need.”
The Company’s commitment will support USWP operations as well as water access programs in countries with the most significant water access needs through its flagship program, the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN). In 2012, Coca-Cola will provide more than $3MM in support of five African countries where, according to the Joint Monitoring Program 2012 Update, less than half of the population has improved access to clean water. These countries are Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique and Somaliland. One hundred million people, nearly one third of those lacking safe water access on the African continent, live in these five countries.
The funds will support a variety of sustainable water access activities ranging from expanding water access in informal urban settlements to providing water access in hospitals and promoting multiple uses of water that empower women. These projects are core to the Company’s 2012 RAIN project portfolio that addresses the diversity of water challenges faced by Africans, including sustainable agriculture, water and sanitation in schools, and rural and urban community water access.
Also as part of this effort, The Coca-Cola Company will provide $500,000 of operational support to the USWP to bring additional resources to African countries characterized as high-need for clean water and sanitation. The USWP will also make the best practices from these RAIN investments widely available to the global water sector.
“These programs are in the spirit of the Rio meetings – conserving natural resources for future generations, improving livelihoods and ensuring the sustainability of the communities we serve,” said William Asiko, President of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.
The U.S. Water Partnership (USWP)
USWP is a U.S.-based public-private partnership (PPP) established to unite American expertise, knowledge, and resources, and mobilize those assets to address water challenges around the globe, especially in the developing world. In addition to The Coca-Cola Company, founding partners include the US State Department, 15 US government agencies, The Rockefeller Foundation, Skoll Global Threats Fund and NGO partners. For more information on the USWP, please visit http://uswaterpartnership.org/.
The Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN)
RAIN is backed by a six-year, $30 million dollar commitment by The Coca-Cola Company and is the signature community initiative of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation. In partnership with other donors, RAIN aims to provide water access to over 2 million people in Africa by 2015. To date, RAIN, supports over 40 projects in more than 25 countries and continues to expand across the continent. For more information about RAIN, please visit http://www.tccaf.org.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.
The Coca-Cola Company
Serena Levy, +1.404.676.2683
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
Released June 21, 2012