Elior UK joins the ‘Catalyzing Finance for Strengthened Water Resilience in African Cities’ session at COP27 and supports the Water Unite Impact investment vehicle which has been endorsed as one of the key solutions to tackling water security issues across Africa over the next 10 years.
This session, hosted in Sharm El Sheikh, highlights the Water Unite Impact investment vehicle amongst other initiatives that are working towards building a water-resilient future for Africa’s cities. Developed by non-profit Water Unite, this investment vehicle invests in private sector water SMEs in the global south to transform lives and communities. Donations from international retailers act as Catalytic Capital to drive commercial capital and expertise towards water security solutions.
Elior UK, who has supported the Water Unite model since 2019, has raised tens of thousands of pounds each year to fund water security programmes. Donations have been raised through micro-levies on the sales of bottled water across over 1000 sites where Elior provides food and hospitality services and these donations are then distributed through non-profit partner Water Unite.
As a speaker at the COP27 session, Catherine Roe, CEO of Elior UK, commented: “We are so proud to support this Water Unite initiative and have adopted the micro-levy model which has enabled us to donate tens of thousands of pounds each year to Water Unite and who fund innovative solutions to help address water issues in developing countries across Africa and Asia. These donations allow local entrepreneurs to develop their social enterprises into thriving businesses which in turn provide employment opportunities and a positive impact on their local communities.
“Sustainability and projects such as the Water Unite initiative are very important to our colleagues, clients and their customers and we encourage more businesses to adopt the micro-levy model and drive much needed additional funding into the water sector.”
Water Unite is a global non-profit working to provide clean water for people and planet and to date Water Unite has supported nine projects in the water and circular economy sectors, directly benefiting over one million individuals in developing countries.
