As we grow and strive to make a significant impact on poor people's access to safe water and sanitation, our work will be governed by the following guiding beliefs and values.
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Clean water and sanitation are human rights, essential to life. Everyone in the world should have access to them close to their homes.
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Water, sanitation and hygiene education are crucial for poverty reduction. They reduce illness and deaths, and free up time spent collecting water or incapacitated through sickness for education and other economic and social development.
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The interests of vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women and children, are of primary concern.
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Local people should make informed choices about the water and sanitation services that best suit their needs and, wherever appropriate, should be involved in the building and ongoing management of their projects.
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Local organizations, which understand local needs, are best placed to implement projects to ensure long-term, sustainable change in a way that champions the voices of poor people.
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With ultimate responsibility for water and sanitation services local and national governments must be involved in decisions concerning their provision.
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Increased accountability and transparency by all organizations involved in water, sanitation and hygiene education are essential in ensuring the needs of the poor are met.
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Poor people should be offered affordable and reliable water and sanitation technologies that are appropriate to their situations.
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All projects should achieve long-term benefits, and as such the sustainability of water supplies, the finance and skills required for ongoing operation, and the ability to support existing and new projects are vital.
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Sharing of innovation and learning is crucial to the success of WaterAid and its partners.
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The dedication and development of our staff, partners' staff and volunteers are central to our success. We must embrace staff diversity.
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