The Coca-Cola Company in Africa and its bottling partners – Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) and Coca-Cola HBC – plan to invest nearly $25-million to support water solutions in local communities in Africa.

Under the new partner coalition, ‘The Coca-Cola System’s Africa water stewardship initiative’, the partners aim to address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African countries, starting this year until 2030.

“Water is a priority for The Coca-Cola Company and its local bottling partners because it is essential to life, the communities we serve and our beverages,” explains The Coca-Cola Company’s Africa operating unit public affairs, communications and sustainability VP Karyn Harrington.

“As we face increasing water insecurity worldwide, with demand outstripping supply in many regions such as Africa, Coca-Cola is taking steps to help accelerate efforts to address water stress, protect local water resources and build community climate resilience.”

This is in line with the company’s 2030 Water Security Strategy, which focuses on helping to enhance water security where it operates and sources ingredients.

The work will be led by the Global Water Challenge (GWC) and implemented by a consortium of partners, including The Nature Conservancy, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Wildlife Fund.

“We applaud Coca-Cola’s continued leadership on African water security,” adds GWC CEO Monica Ellis.

With one in three Africans facing water insecurity, the GWC and ‘The Coca-Cola System’s Africa water stewardship initiative’ partner coalition seek to improve water security and access to water and sanitation services in local communities, advance community health and resilience through abundant, clean water.

Projects will be implemented in Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“CCBA has a responsibility to help those who face water scarcity and to help protect local water resources where we operate, especially in places with the biggest challenges. We are proud to partner with The Coca-Cola Company on this project,” CCBA chief public affairs, communication and sustainability officer Layla Jeevanantham, says in a statement.

ECCBC public affairs, communications and sustainability manager Sonia Ventosa echoes these sentiments, noting that, by working together, the expertise of partners can be leveraged, along with the knowledge of local communities, to help create sustainable solutions that enhance water access and safeguard vital water resources.