BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Weiss Asset Management Foundation announced today that it has awarded Evidence Action a grant totaling $1.27 million to support its efforts to improve access to safe drinking water for tens of millions of people in India.
More than 65% of rural households throughout India currently have tap water connections. However, even with piped water, the significant infrastructural and technological challenge that remains is implementing a means of treatment to ensure that the water is safe to drink.
Evidence Action is launching a pilot program in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, designed to determine the best way to deploy effective chlorination technologies in different water systems. The pilot, supported by Weiss Asset Management Foundation, as well as a $500,000 donation from the Rauch Family Foundation following a recommendation by GiveWell, will assess the efficacy, scalability, and operational feasibility of several water treatment technologies to provide comprehensive recommendations for implementation by state governments.
“We are thrilled to launch this ambitious project that has the potential to drastically reduce child mortality in India,” said Parth Bahuguna, global director of maternal, neonatal, and child health at Evidence Action. “With strategic government partnership and investments, success of this pilot can open a pathway to scale up to reach tens of millions - or more - people with lifesaving safe water access.”
“We’re excited to support an organization with such an impressive track record of programs and partnerships improving fundamental health outcomes,” said Harlan Downs-Tepper, Program Director of Weiss Asset Management Foundation. “This pilot has tremendous potential to equip Indian state governments to implement an effective model for scalable water treatment.”
Unsafe water is responsible for more than 1.2 million deaths globally each year and is the most common cause of diarrhea, the world’s second-leading cause of childhood mortality. A study conducted by Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer (who is also a member of Weiss Asset Management Foundation’s Allocation Committee) and co-authors found that water treatment can reduce all-cause mortality of children under five by approximately 25%.
Note: Amrita Ahuja is a co-founder and current board member of Evidence Action and a member of Weiss Asset Management Foundation’s Allocation Committee.
About Evidence Action
Evidence Action is a global nonprofit reaching millions with health interventions that are backed by strong evidence. Its approach ensures exceptional cost-effectiveness, maximizing the impact of every dollar spent. Evidence Action currently works in nine countries and provides more than 10 million people with access to safe water through chlorination treatment interventions, in partnership with local governments and communities. Learn more: www.evidenceaction.org.
About Weiss Asset Management Foundation
Weiss Asset Management Foundation seeks to alleviate suffering globally. The Foundation’s recent substantial grants include support for groundbreaking research on expanding access to vaccines in rural communities in Africa, oxygen concentrators to rural communities in India, and community health workers in rural Nepal. For more information about Weiss Asset Management Foundation, visit www.wamfoundation.org.