CO2balance and our in-country partner United Purpose rehabilitated 80 boreholes between Jan-April 2020 across the 6 districts within The Gambia. This project delivers safe water to rural communities who, prior to the project, were relying on unsafe, open wells and polluted rivers and therefore collecting water that needed to be purified before it was safe for human consumption. In a country where only 28% of its rural population use a basic sanitation service, the WASH training delivered to the project communities has raised awareness and encouraged behaviour changes for the sustainable adoption of good hygiene practices. Restrictions were faced due to the global pandemic, although project activities continued safely, ensuring the communities still gained access to improved water sources and socially-distanced trainings for WASH practices.
Contributions have been made towards the Sustainable Development Goals through SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Throughout this first monitoring period, every borehole was rehabilitated from being broken, water quality tested with the Gambian Ministry of Health (where necessary treated to deliver certified safe water in line with the WHO Drinking Water Standard) and underwent regular follow-up visits to ensure they were functioning well and the project was implemented successfully and check in with the communities.
CO2balance have been going through the thorough verification review for a few months, a process within which the Gold Standard, the body verifying this project, undertook in-depth assessments and checks on the project to ensure it met their stringent requirements for the carbon saving and contribution to the SDGs.