Rainwater for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a human right and can prevent a significant proportion of water-related diseases. To date, 86% of urban residents have access to safe drinking water services, but only 60% of rural residents. Safely managed sanitation services reach 62% of the world's urban population, but only 44% of the rural population.

Rainwater is a free resource that can play a vital role in the realisation of this human right. Improving the management of this resource is a highly relevant and effective response to improving the health of children, women and communities around the world.

As such, the management of this resource is fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6.

In order to guarantee access to rainwater resources for all and everywhere, IRHA intends to support

• Strengthening community access to safe water and sanitation services and good hygiene practices through the implementation of sustainable and operational rainwater harvesting systems, sanitation (latrines, toilets) and hand washing.
• Strengthening the knowledge (technical and organisational capacities) of local actors in terms of prevention of waterborne diseases, maintenance and sustainable management of infrastructures.
• Supporting local actors to improve rainwater management and to implement natural resource conservation initiatives in their territories.