Access to water and sanitation is needed for people throughout the world to prosper and lift themselves out of poverty. Also, the uncertain effects of climate change are placing great strains on communities throughout the world. Solutions to these problems are available but, often, awareness of them is not great.

The Millennium Development Goals aimed to halve the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Whilst the safe drinking water goal was assumed achieved in 2010, approximately one quarter of a billion people still lack access. Furthermore, 2.5 billion still lack access to improved sanitation.

Piloting small scale solutions to water and sanitation, and a changing climate offer communities an opportunity to take control of the issues impacting upon their lives. Through trialling and demonstrating the effectiveness of solutions, communities, NGOs, and local to national governments have the opportunity to replicate and upscale successful approaches.

Through the distribution of small grants, the Every Drop Matters programme demonstrates solutions to these challenges. The small grant projects focus on community-based solutions, allowing those in need to take control of their problems. Utilising UNDP knowledge of community-led work and sustainable development, and Coca-Cola’s knowledge and skills in awareness raising, the results from successful projects are then communicated to a larger audience.

Pilot projects aim to increase investment in solutions – either by attracting additional funds to expand a project’s scope, or by providing the evidence governments and donors need to fund the replication of solutions at scale.