Situation
- Problem: Over 4 billion people worldwide lack safe water access, causing health issues, disrupting education, and perpetuating poverty.
- Solution: Local entrepreneurs manage water kiosks, providing affordable, safe water within communities. They sell 20-litre packaged water to vulnerable populations at an affordable price.
- Impact: Over 1 million people across Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Madagascar have access to affordable and safe drinking water through the provision of bottled water services.
- Annual Budget: $4.5 million (budget of 1001fontaines HQ, but also has separate country NGOs).
Funding model at scale
1001fontaines provides sustainable access to safe and affordable drinking water by training local entrepreneurs to manage small water production and distribution units (kiosks). These kiosks become locally operating, lasting infrastructure in the community.
1001fontaines starts operations by raising the initial investment needed for infrastructure and entrepreneur training. They conduct most of their fundraising from their headquarters in France, transferring funds directly to local NGOs. Foundations provide the majority of the funding.
After this, they set up each water kiosk through a public-private partnership with the local commune. This partnership ensures access to land and water sources while making the infrastructure public rather than private.