CO2balance project activity in Zimbabwe has involved working in collaboration with a local NGO, the Diocese of Mutare Community Care Programme (DOMCCP), to rehabilitate and maintain safe water sources in the Manicaland province. To date, 30 boreholes have been rehabilitated and have provided a safe water source for local communities for nearly three years.
Following completion of the second year of annual monitoring conducted by DOMCPP, we are pleased to have contributed to three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Access to Safe Water). This is in addition to SDG 13 (Climate Action).
SDG 3 contribution:
The project has reduced the incidence of waterborne illnesses by 82% by providing a safe water source. With children particularly at risk from water-related diseases, access to improved sources of water can result in better health, and therefore better school attendance, with positive longer-term consequences for their lives.
SDG 5 contribution:
Since the boreholes were rehabilitated, the project has saved each household a remarkable 175 minutes on average per day. This is achieved by reducing the distance needed to walk to the water source (56%), reducing the time waiting at the water source (12%), removing the need to treat the water (16%) and collect firewood to purify dirty water (12%). As women and girls are the family members that typically complete domestic work, this is an extra 175 minutes for them that can be spent in different ways; perhaps on further education or for extra income generating activities. Providing the boreholes can also result in greater personal safety for women and girls by reducing the need to make long or risky journeys to collect water or firewood.
SDG 6 contribution:
In total, an amazing 8,084 additional people now have access to safe water in the project area, when compared to the baseline situation in 2018.
In the picture below, local people demonstrate one of our Zimbabwean boreholes delivering clean and safe water. This photo was taken during a quarterly operational visit in December 2020 by DOMCCP. Such visits are vital to ensure safe water is provided continuously and ensure that our projects work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6. Specifically target 6.1: “By 2030, to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030”!
Please contact us or email enquiries@co2balance.com to hear more about the positive impacts of our Zimbabwean projects!