The Red Cross gained backing from the food giant Nestle on Wednesday for a global project to tackle chronic shortages of clean water in impoverished communities in developing countries.
The Swiss multinational will provide 1.5 million Swiss francs (950,000 euros, 766,000 dollars) and technical expertise for projects set up by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide durable clean water supplies and sanitation.
“Over a billion of the world’s population suffer daily from the lack of such access, or have to accept that access is inadequate, threatened, polluted, or provided in an inequitable or unaffordable manner,” said federation president Markku Niskala.
About 1.5 million people, mainly in Africa, are expected to benefit from an initial wave of projects, which have so far also received support from the European Union.
The 10-year Global Water and Sanitation Initiative is trying to attract 150 million Swiss francs in funding over ten years from governments and international agencies, as well as the business world.
Federation water expert Robert Fraser said he hoped that Nestle’s involvement would encourage more corporate donors to join the effort. Governments in poor countries desperately needed a helping hand, he added.
“Regardless of how much will or commitment they show, the sheer scale of it is beyond their capacities,” Fraser explained.
The Swiss-based food group is the world’s largest bottled water supplier and is heavily involved in farming around the world.
During the 1980s it was at the centre of a scandal over marketing practices for infant milk powder in areas with tainted water supplies.
Chief executive and chairman Peter Brabeck insisted that Nestle’s involvement in the initiative was in line with other recent humanitarian projects dealing with HIV/AIDS or water in Africa and India, sometimes with the Red Cross.
He pointed out that it was also in the group’s self-interest to protect employees, suppliers and consumers.
“Nestle is a human company but it’s not — and I want to be frank about it — a humanitarian or philanthropic organisation,” Brabeck said.
“But Nestle does believe that creating long term value for our shareholders and long term value for our society go hand-in-hand,” he added.
The group intends to provide help with well-drilling, sanitation and water management on top of cash.
The Red Cross federation imposes criteria for business practices and ethical standards in corporate partnerships like the one signed Wednesday.
Source: Agence France-Presse
