The Waitrose Foundation has pledged to invest £1m by 2028 in water security and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes.
It is part of the foundation’s efforts to create better livelihoods for workers and their families while shoring up agricultural supply chain resilience and long-term sustainability.
The company said that investment in water security and WASH were especially relevant in the face of the effects of climate change.
“It is vital that we support sustainable water practices through the Waitrose Foundation, said director of ethics & sustainability at Waitrose Marija Rompani. “Within the communities around many of our foundation farms, access to clean water and sanitation is often lacking.
“Clean water is fundamental for human health, economic development and education, particularly for women and children who are often disproportionately affected by water scarcity and water-borne diseases,” she added.
The foundation operates in countries that are among the most affected by water scarcity and poor access to sanitation and hygiene, and it is hoped that the latest funding will provide solutions such as pipelines, water smart irrigation systems, and access to drinking water.
The pledge marks the latest phase in the Global Strategic Fund, which accounts for 15% of the foundation’s income and supports initiatives that address global challenges by investing in “multi-farm projects and achieving impact at scale”.
The foundation has said that over the next few years it will be focusing on projects that promote sustainable water practices across all stages.
From 2022 to 2025, the Waitrose Foundation invested more than £1m on climate resilience programming, supporting farmers to adapt to climate change.
In its 20 years, the foundation has generated more than £24m to invest in workers in Waitrose supply chains, delivered more than 2100 “community-led” projects, supported workers in 10 countries, and worked with more than 400 “farm partners”.
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