Dhaka, 22 March 2023: The Coca-Cola Foundation recently awarded a grant to Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) to enhance water resilience for 40,000 residents of low-income communities in Chattogram. The project aims to increase access to clean, safe water supply through upgraded infrastructure and services, and improving water usage behaviors in the communities.

The pilot project- “Enhancing community water resilience for low-income communities” will demonstrate climate resilient water facilities in LICs. The project will also promote water stewardship, helping protect water supplies from exploitation, contamination, and wastage while reducing risks of water-related illnesses, and supporting water conservation and security.

President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg said that, “Sustainable access to safe water is a core priority area for The Coca-Cola Foundation and we are proud to support the work of WSUP in improving water access in Chattogram. “

The framework of the project will be divided into three parts; Communal Water Supply Points, Water Management, Conservation, and Hygiene and lastly Institutional Sustainability for greater impact and higher reach. The Communal Water Supply Points will focus on improving and extending safely managed water supply facilities for 8,000 people in selected LICs in Chattogram while Water Management, Conservation and Hygiene activities will be improving water management and usage behaviors of LIC residents, reaching 40,000 people. At the same time Institutional Sustainability part of the project will provide institutional training to local government bodies to strengthen and deliver sustainable water supply services.

Md. Habibur Rahman, Acting Country Manager of Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) said that, “There’s a significant number of low-income communities residing in Chattogram. They are the backbone of the society and their contribution to the society is commendable. It gives me pleasure that with the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation we will be able to bring a positive change in their life and help them develop their communities.”

The announcement of this project was shared during World Water Day celebration organized by WSUP, Chattogram WASA. Where representative from Chattogram University of Engineering & Technology (CUET), Chattogram City Corporation, Department of Public Health Engineering, Chattogram WASA key officials and development partners like UNICEF, UNDP, INGOs, NGOs were present.