Newsletter

2020-2027

SMALL ENTERPRISES FOR CLEAN WATER

© 1001fontaines

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2020-2027

1001fontaines

Since 2004, 1001fontaines has been a leading pioneer of the water kiosk model, a decentralised approach to providing safe, affordable drinking water to rural and urban communities. Local entrepreneurs are trained to manage the water kiosks, and a franchised social business is set up to support the entrepreneurs in exchange for a monthly fee. To date, 1001fontaines has provided one million people with safe drinking water through water kiosks in four countries. We’ve been funding them in Cambodia since 2020 and in Madagascar since 2024.

CHALLENGE

2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water according to the UN’s World Water Development Report 2024. Every 10 seconds, a person dies from bacterial infection, parasites and dehydration caused by unsafe water.

© Cartier Philanthropy / Cyril Le Tourneur

ACTION

IN CAMBODIA

1001fontaines sets up water kiosks containing small solar water purification plants, and trains local entrepreneurs to produce safe drinking water and distribute it to villagers at an affordable price.

The purified water is delivered directly to people’s homes at a price agreed with the community to ensure families can afford it and that the local entrepreneur can cover the costs to make their business financially sustainable.

A local franchising entity provides the water kiosk businesses with ongoing coaching, technical assistance, routine maintenance and a monthly water quality control test.

In addition, the water is supplied free of charge to schools, which helps reduce absenteeism by up to 75% and enables the children to grow healthily and benefit fully from their education.

1001fontaines aims to grow its network to 400 water kiosks serving a total of 1.5 million people by 2025.

IN MADAGASCAR

1001fontaines has adapted its water kiosk model to serve the urban areas around Tamatave, Madagascar’s second largest city.

Here, large water production facilities supply a decentralised network of kiosks that sell drinking water at a price that is affordable to the urban poor.

In addition, 4,200 students and 100 families with sickle cell disease are provided with water free of charge.

This urban model, which serves 37,000 customers today, will soon be rolled out to new areas, providing access to quality drinking water for an additional 20,000 people by 2027.

IMPACT

Decentralised models like 1001fontaines water kiosks are a growing trend and have proven their ability to operate effectively in underserved areas.

300
+

Water kiosks

operating in Cambodia today

220M
+

Litres

of clean water sold in Cambodia since inception

1M

CAMBODIANS

drink clean water from 1001fontaines water kiosks (2024)

37,000

Malagasy

drink clean water sold by 1001fontaines water kiosks (2024)

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