HSBC
Our partnership
The HSBC Water Programme was launched in 2012 as a collaborative partnership between WaterAid, WWF and Earthwatch. Originally, a $100 million commitment, the programme's success in tackling water provision, protection, education and scientific research, led to its renewal in 2017.
Now an eight-year $150 million programme, the impact of its work has been far-reaching: the HSBC Water Programme has provided 1.65 million people with clean water and over 2.5 million with sanitation, in six focus countries – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria.
For the second phase of the HSBC Water Programme, from 2017-19, WaterAid will accelerate change for the poorest communities in our six focus countries in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Key changes to our approach include a much stronger emphasis on sustainability through strengthening the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector to provide effective services; reaching the hardest to reach by demonstrating appropriate, replicable WASH services in remote and marginalised communities; improving hygiene practices at scale and tackling critical challenges such as climate change and water security.
The overall impact of the programme will be that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our six target countries live healthier and more dignified lives through access to safe water and sanitation, and improved hygiene.
Our programme with HSBC is evolving. In 2017 HSBC launched their new sustainability strategy which has a key focus area of sustainable supply chains. Together, HSBC and WaterAid are driving action towards a shared ambition of a sustainable future – focusing on the sustainability of global supply chains in the apparel sector and the wellbeing of workers, through the new project launched in 2018.
Sustainable apparel supply chains project
Building on the success of the HSBC Water Programme, HSBC and WaterAid launched a new 3 year project to deliver essential water and sanitation services in apparel factories and nearby communities in Bangladesh and India.
As a leading global trade bank, HSBC recognises its unique role in supporting a shift to sustainability in global supply chains, which this project will support. As well as improving living and working conditions, this funding will enable WaterAid to pilot test metrics as part of the wider Business Case for WASH project, which aims to provide evidence of the business benefits and financial value of WASH interventions.
Latest news
Have you ever thought about the journey of your clothes, and the impact they have on people’s lives and the environment?
This week WaterAid is at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, the world’s largest sustainable fashion event, to demonstrate why water is critical to encouraging a shift towards sustainable fashion.
Together with HSBC and WWF, WaterAid have developed an interactive installation to demonstrate the importance of water provision and stewardship to promoting the sustainability of global apparel supply chains.
In 2018, HSBC and WaterAid launched a three year programme to deliver essential water and sanitation services in apparel factories and nearby communities in Bangladesh and India.
As well as improving living and working conditions, this funding will enable WaterAid to pilot test metrics as part of the wider Business Case for WASH project, which aims to provide evidence of the business benefits and financial value of WASH interventions.
WaterAid and HSBC are working together to bring clean water powered by renewable technology to communities around the world. This week we're at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) to champion sustainability to build a brighter future for all. Watch the film below to find out more.
To celebrate the launch of the new Supply Chains in Apparel Sector Programme at Stockholm World Water Week, WaterAid and HSBC have created this new animation to highlight the impact of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for workers in the supply chains globally and to strengthen the business case for WASH.
The film showcases the impact of climate change on access to clean water and the knock on effects for small businesses in Dacope, Bangladesh. WaterAid and and HSBC have been working together in Bangladesh since 2012 to provide climate-resilient clean water resources.
What our partners say
HSBC believes that business has a role to play in helping safeguard natural resources and improve livelihoods, both of which underpin economic growth.
The WaterHub website
The WaterHub is a website dedicated to the HSBC Water Programme, and is managed by EarthWatch.
Read stories of lives transformed by the HSBC Water Programme >
Aftershock: a HSBC supported documentary
On 25 April 2015, Nepal experienced the country’s worst earthquake in 80 years. Thousands of people had to come to terms with the loss of family members and friends, as well as the destruction of their homes and essential infrastructure – including taps and toilets.
The HSBC Water Programme funded our first-ever virtual reality documentary, in which we tell the story of just one of the communities affected: Kharelthok.
