How entrepreneurs can transform access to safe water

Using IROC to Blend Perspectives and Create a Balanced Scorecard

Insights from EY’s Analysis of SWEs

1. Consolidated in How can a trickle become a torrent? (pdf), a joint report with Unilever, launched at World Water Week in Stockholm last August.
2. These insights help illuminate a path to SWEs serving hundreds of millions of people and dramatically accelerating progress toward the goal of equitable access to safe drinking water for all.

Scale is Critical

1. The report highlights the need for investors who are prepared to take a more balanced view of SWEs’ potential to generate returns.
2. It also illustrates the criticality of scale to achieving true sustainability.
3. Scale depends on finding the best “fit” to a particular blend of market conditions.

Consideration of Affordability and Market Conditions

• While RO may be the “gold standard” for water purification, it may not be a scalable, sustainable option in certain parts of the world due to affordability constraints.
• In some locations, making water potable only requires removal of biological pathogens, making overengineering unnecessary.

Advancing Understanding and Investment in the SWE Sector

• EY and Unilever aim to advance investors’ understanding of, and confidence in, the SWE sector.
• They hope to illustrate more viable paths to scale, stimulate greater investment, and direct further capacity-building support behind high-potential SWEs.

Potential for Impact

• The SWEs featured in the report are already serving more than 15 million people.
• With the right focus and support, these SWEs have the potential to bring safe, affordable water within reach of millions more people living at the base of the pyramid.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
   • Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.

The article addresses the issues related to clean water and sanitation and the development of industry and infrastructure. It discusses the need for sustainable water purification methods and the importance of scale in achieving true sustainability. The article also emphasizes the potential of social water enterprises (SWEs) in providing safe and affordable water to millions of people.

Based on the content of the article, the following targets can be identified:

• Target 6.1: Achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Target 9.1: Developing quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.

The article mentions two indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: ey.com

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