We Are WaterAid
WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity. Childbirth is safer, children get the chance to grow up healthy and strong. Families thrive and whole communities are better prepared for our changing climate and whatever the future holds.
We started out in 1981, when UK water companies created a single organisation dedicated to tackling the global water crisis.
Today we work alongside communities worldwide setting up entire systems that deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for millions. And we get the people, policies and money in place to keep these systems working – and the water flowing for good. So that people have safe, reliable services that last.
Our work with communities, partners, allies and supporters has already meant millions of people can shape their own future with dignity and confidence.
To drive lasting change on a global scale and faster than ever, we get others to step up and play their part:
- Partnering with communities to build systems that work for them
- Connecting policy makers, experts, local partners and communities
- Innovating, learning, modelling solutions and sharing good practice
- Changing attitudes and behaviours
- Rallying support from people and organisations around the world
- Working with decision makers to scale up investment and accelerate progress.
Together with our partners and supporters, we are working with determination towards the day when we are no longer needed.
Our Vision
A world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
Our Mission
Transform lives through sustainable and safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Our Values
Define our culture and unite us across the many countries in which we work. They are at the very heart of WaterAid – who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Respect: We treat everyone with dignity and respect and champion the rights of all to achieve a fairer world.
Accountability: We are accountable to the people we work with and to those who support us.
Courage: We are bold and inspiring in our actions and words, uncompromising in our determination to pursue our mission.
Collaboration: We work with others to maximise our impact, respecting diversity and difference in the pursuit of common goals.
Innovation: We are creative and agile, always learning, and prepared to take risks to accelerate change.
Integrity: We act with honesty and conviction and our actions are consistent with openness, equality and human rights.
The WaterAid Federation
In 2010, WaterAid became a global federation of national member organisations. Today, we have eight members: Australia, Canada, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the US.
Each member organisation mobilises support in its country, engaging individuals, companies and institutions to raise funds and influence policies to support our shared mission. To make change happen on a global scale we collaborate on regional and global advocacy and campaigns to influence governments, companies, investors, and international institutions. Australia, India, the UK and US also manage country programmes on behalf of our global network. Members share the WaterAid vision, mission, values and strategy, working together under a common identity to maximise our impact.
The work of the federation is supported by a small secretariat who help the member organisations work together effectively and efficiently.
As a global federation we follow four principles:
Global Interest: Achieving WaterAid’s mission as effectively as possible is fundamental to all we do and global interest is paramount.
Subsidiarity: WaterAid international will only undertake activities that it can deliver more effectively than WaterAid member countries.
One Country, One WaterAid: WaterAid will only have one delivery organisation in each of the regions or countries where we operate.
Sustainability: The members of the WaterAid federation will be organisations that are, or are expected to become within a reasonable timeframe, self-sustaining and able to contribute significant resources to the delivery of WaterAid’s strategy.
Visit Wateraid.org
WaterAid’s People Team
In 2024, we launched a new operating model for WaterAid’s People function to support and enable WaterAid to achieve our ambitious global strategy.
The vision is to ensure that services are provided locally where possible, with people leads in every country feeling confident and equipped to support their local team with expertise aligned to their context. Working together across the federation, our country people leads share ideas and challenges and contribute to global strategies and approaches.
The Global People Team work with all WaterAid member organisations to contribute to an effective federation ensuring a strong and common employer brand, managing risk and supporting collaboration. Expertise in this team covers safeguarding, diversity, equity and empowerment, internal communications and engagement, leadership and learning at a global level.
The WaterAid UK People Team support WaterAiders across 20 countries (+950 staff) and provides specialist business partnering, learning, reward, talent acquisition and management, internal communications and engagement, safety and security, and strategic people planning expertise. A People Hub within this team supports country people leads in their delivery of local services and with specialist expertise. The UK People Team, including UK Facilities, also sit within the WaterAid UK People Team.
