The Coca-Cola Company, alongside its bottling partners Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC), and Coca-Cola HBC, has unveiled a significant $25 million investment aimed at addressing critical water challenges across 20 African countries. The initiative, named ‘The Coca-Cola System’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative,’ will span from this year through 2030.
The announcement, made in Cape Town, was supported by a coalition of partners including Global Water Challenge (GWC), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This comprehensive effort will target water insecurity and aim to enhance water access, protect local water resources, and improve climate resilience in affected communities.
Karyn Harrington, Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company’s Africa Operating Unit, emphasized the significance of the initiative: “Water is a priority for The Coca-Cola Company and its local bottling partners because it is essential to life, the communities we serve, and our beverages. Our 2030 Water Security Strategy focuses on enhancing water security in areas where we operate and source ingredients.”
Monica Ellis, CEO of GWC, highlighted the urgency of the project: “One in three Africans face water insecurity. The partnership coalition will seek to improve water security for millions across the continent, advancing community health and resilience through clean water.”
The initiative will focus on enhancing watershed health and improving water and sanitation services in countries including Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and others.
CCBA’s Layla Jeevanantham and ECCBC’s Sonia Ventosa both expressed their commitment to the project, underscoring the importance of collaboration in addressing water challenges. Coca-Cola HBC’s Marcel Martin added, “We’re very happy to see this new water initiative come to life and to support the system’s water stewardship efforts.”
The program builds on the success of The Coca-Cola Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), which, between 2009 and 2019, improved access to clean water and sanitation for 6 million people across Africa through 120 projects.
By collaborating with governments, businesses, and civil society, ‘The Coca-Cola System’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative’ aims to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation.
