The problems 1. Only 50% of the population have access to a safe and sustainable water supply. 2. Mali privatised its water system, so private companies are responsible for providing and maintaining water pipes to supply clean water to the population. They do not do this well. 3. Many do not understand about hygiene and good sanitation. 4. 50% of the population struggle to find clean water, irrigate crops or look after livestock, resulting in disease and famine. What is WaterAid ? WaterAid is an NGO that is providing international voluntary aid to Mali to try and help solve the problems by • Paying for the construction of the water pipe network to provide slums with access to clean drinking water. • Training local people to manage and maintain this system (so they are not reliant on private companies. • In rural areas, they are constructing and training locals how to build and maintain simple water pumps. • Encouraging the local community to invest in this network so they own it and are responsible for it. • Training locals to provide education to the population about good hygiene to lower the risk of disease. • Educating about the benefits of compost toilets (rather than pooing in the streets) so that this can be used as a fertiliser to help crops grow.
