WaterAid is a global charity that aims to give the world’s poorest people access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Having clean water improves the health and lives of communities and is seen as the first step in overcoming poverty.

WaterAid works with local partners. Providing the necessary skills and support to help communities establish and manage simple, practical and sustainable projects, WaterAid helps improve the general well-being of these communities. The organisation also lobbies to implement and influence policy locally and internationally to ensure that water, sanitation and hygiene are investment priorities for government to lift communities out of the poverty trap, reducing illness and mortality from water-borne disease. The aim of WaterAid is to promote and secure poor people’s rights and access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation. Similarly, to support governments and service providers in developing their capacity to deliver safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation along with advocating for the essential role of safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation in human development.

As one of Arup’s founding Cause Partners in 2006, we continue to support WaterAid’s work across the region. The Arup Cause embodies our commitment to ‘shape a better world’ and to bring about positive change through projects and through learning more about the world and its challenges. It provides an opportunity for our staff to commit their energy and expertise to combating some of the big issues the world faces.

The Arup Cause provides a focus for our activity, encouraging and leveraging the individual abilities and contribution of our staff for maximum impact. For WaterAid, we provide water specialists who work on projects across the world. Our staff also participates in fundraising activities to raise funds for Water Aid programmes. We use our professional knowledge, skills, time and energy to help ensure that more people have access to clean water and sanitation.