Ghana, others to benefit from $50m water grant from Hilton Foundation
Ghana is to benefit from a $50 million water fund pledged by the Hilton Foundation in the US to address the water needs of more than one million people in sub-Sahara Africa.
The foundation announced the pledge on March 22, 2011 at a U.S. Department of State and World Bank event to mark World Water Day.
Steven M. Hilton, President and CEO of the Foundation says the $50 million grant to be given over five years,will fund a three-part strategy that will deliver access to sustainable safe water; increased advocacy and capacity; and expand knowledge on global water best practices for communities, governments, NGOs and donors.
“The programmes we are funding will employ innovative and appropriate technologies to scale up safe water provision, develop tools to enhance water programming, foster partnerships, generate and share knowledge, and support advocacy”, Hilton said on its website.
WaterAid America and World Vision will execute the project on behalf of the foundation in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The project will include a programme to educate communities on sanitation and hygiene in these countries.
“WaterAid America, and World Vision is to build sustainable safe water sources in the West African countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Niger and to educate communities on sanitation and hygiene”, it said.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was founded in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world’s disadvantaged and vulnerable people.
By Ekow Quandzie