World Vision Announces $200 Million Clinton Global Initiative Commitment Focusing on Girls, Women, and Water

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Global relief and development leader World Vision announced today a six-year, $200 million effort in its 2011 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), focused on expanding the life-changing impact of safe water on women, girls, and their communities. Building on its two decades of experience in water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as its recently completed five-year West Africa Water Initiative (WAWI) in Ghana, Mali and Niger, the Christian humanitarian organization seeks to directly impact some 6.6 million people across 10 African countries.

"We have seen just how critical access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is for women and girls—not only to their daily health and personal safety, but also to enable them to invest in their education and future," said Richard Stearns, President of World Vision United States and attendee at this week's CGI Annual Meeting in New York City.

With its expertise in issues that affect women and girls in developing communities, World Vision expects its expanded water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions to not only improve child and maternal health and nutrition status, but also enhance family livelihoods, household savings, school attendance, and the ability to learn, especially among girls.

"World Vision understands that for sustainable change, we must combine the essential 'software' ingredients of community engagement and behavior change with the 'hardware' of borehole wells, catchment systems and other interventions," said Rudo Kwaramba, World Vision's national director in Uganda, who along with Stearns will be honored at CGI's commitment presentation today. "And in all of this, women's ownership and full participation is essential so they are empowered to invest further in the health, education, and well-being of their families and communities."

World Vision's new commitment is especially timely given the historic drought in the Horn of Africa, which is affecting more than 13 million people. As part of its CGI commitment, the aid agency is responding urgently to the emergency water needs in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda, as well as Somalia. World Vision will also carry out water and sanitation projects in the region that help preserve livelihoods and mitigate the effects of the drought.

About World Vision:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit www.worldvision.org/press. For the full text of World Vision's 2011 CGI commitment, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative:

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion.

SOURCE World Vision