WaterEquity, a US-based impact investment manager dedicated to solving the global water crisis, announced the granting of a strategic loan to the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF) to bolster microloans for improved access to water and sanitation solutions in the Philippines.
“WaterEquity is proud to support NWTF in their mission to enhance water and sanitation access in the rural areas in the Philippines,” Adysti Raissa Fitri, Regional Director of East Asia and the Pacific at WaterEquity, said in a press release on Wednesday, May 8.
“This investment underscores our belief in the transformative power of microfinance to catalyze positive change, providing individuals with the means to secure affordable and life-changing water and sanitation solutions”, she said.
NWTF, a renowned microfinance institution dedicated to empowering women, will utilize the loan to expand its microloan program, specifically targeting women living in rural communities lacking adequate access to safe water and sanitation facilities, the press release said.
The loan aims to reach 116,000 people with improved access to water and sanitation facilities such as the construction and installation of a bathroom, private toilet, or septic tanks.
This partnership highlights WaterEquity’s commitment to driving solutions that address the intersection of water and sanitation needs, gender, health, and economic development. This loan marks the first investment by WaterEquity into the Philippines, highlighting the country as a targeted geography for future investments.
“NWTF’s commitment to our clients extends beyond microfinance, we want to make sure that their and their families’ health, well-being and even safety is looked after as we understand that for them to be able to focus on improving their lives and that of their families, it really needs to be a holistic approach,” Suzzette D. Gaston, NWTF Executive Director, said.
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with WaterEquity and Water.org that has given poor households access to a proper toilet and clean water. We hope to be able to benefit another few hundred thousand families in this continuing partnership,” she added.
NWTF is a long-term partner of Water.org, WaterEquity’s sister organization which provides integral support through technical assistance to strengthen financial institutions’ water and sanitation microloans.
NWTF’s track record in microfinance coupled with WaterEquity’s experience in impact investing is poised to drive meaningful impact across the Philippines. Together, they aim to catalyze a ripple effect of positive change, fostering economic empowerment and improving quality of life, the press release said.
WaterEquity is an asset manager dedicated to mobilizing private investment to the water and sanitation sector in emerging and frontier markets, it said.
Founded by award-winning entrepreneurs Gary White and Matt Damon of Water.org, and led by Paul O’Connell, the success of WaterEquity is built on decades of collective experience investing in water and sanitation in emerging markets, it added.*