Vision and mission

Credit: WaterAid / Abir Abdullah

WaterAid's vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe domestic water and effective sanitation.

WaterAid's core belief is that safe water and sanitation are basic human rights. Everyone in the world should have access to them.

We believe that access to safe water and sanitation underpins health, education and livelihoods, and forms the first, essential step in overcoming poverty.

WaterAid's work in Mali and elsewhere is powered by collaboration. The engagement of all partners, donors, staff, volunteers and trustees underpins our success in realising our shared vision of a world in which everyone has access to safe water and effective sanitation.
 
Though circumstances vary from project to project, there are common features that are applied to every WaterAid project. WaterAid's response is guided by the following:

Core beliefs

• Clean water and sanitation are human rights. Everyone in the world should have access to them.
• Water, sanitation and hygiene education are crucial for poverty reduction.

Values

• Inclusive - We set a priority on working with the most marginalised people in communities.
• Inspiring - We are a passionate champion for safe water, sanitation and hygiene education, and aim to share and spread this passion
• Collaborative - Our work is powered by collaboration with local and international partners, with communities and with our staff and supporters
• Accountable - We are accountable to the communities we serve and the donors who support us
• Always learning - Learning is central to our work and we continually review, refine and adapt our methods and thinking to ensure that our work is sustainable, inventive and effective

Guiding principles

• Appropriate solutions - People living in poverty need effective, reliable water and sanitation services that meet their real needs
• Inclusive solutions - Safe water and sanitation should be accessible, affordable and available to all, including the most marginalised people in any community
• Local solutions - We work in partnership with local organisations because they are best placed to meet local needs
• Transferable solutions - Governments have a responsibility to ensure the provision of safe water and sanitation for their citizens