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As a reaffirmation of its commitment to Bangladesh, Coca-Cola Far East Limited along with UN-HABITAT and The Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction Programme (UPPR) today announced its partnership for a project to improve community access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. The objective of this project is to raise awareness about water conservation and hygiene practices in 30 schools located in the UPPR program area in Dhaka and Comilla, Bangladesh.
The project will be executed by the Government of Bangladesh along with the technical support of UNDP and UN-HABITAT over a period of two years. Being an equal joint partnership between Coca-Cola Far East Ltd, UN-HABITAT and communities together with a local implementing partner, the project involves an investment of USD $300,000. Majorly to be funded by Coca-Cola Far East Ltd and UN-HABITAT, the local schools will be responsible for contributing towards the operation and maintenance of this project. The project is expected to impact 6000 families.
The announcement of this partnership was attended by Andre Dzikus, Chief- Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure Branch, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Richard Geier, International Programme Manager of UPPR, Sandeep Gupta, Vice President, South West Asia, Deepak Jolly, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia, and Debasish Deb, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Far East Limited. The signing ceremony took place amidst a range of stakeholders including NGOs and members of the media in Dhaka
According to Andre Dzikus, Chief- Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure Branch, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), "Access to clean water and sanitation can adversely affect human development. These basic needs are fundamental to improving the living conditions of the urban poor. Our partnership with Coca-Cola Far East Ltd. is an innovative example of how Public-Private-Community partnerships can help meet the Millennium Development Goals, especially the target of halving the number of people not having access to clean water and adequate sanitation by the year 2015."
Coca-Cola Far East Limited gifts water purifiers to the members of JAAGO Foundation to ensure safe drinking water for the school students during the World Water Day Celebrations in Bangladesh on March 22, 2010
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Students of the JAAGO Foundation school participate in the painting competition based on the theme 'Clean Water for a Healthy World'
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At the signing ceremony Richard Geier, International Programme Manager of UPPR, said "I welcome this Project as the first private sector contribution to UPPR’s efforts to reduce urban poverty in 30 cities and towns in Bangladesh. This would be an excellent model for future private sector investments because of the following reasons – Firstly, UPPR guarantees that poor communities are targeted; Secondly, UPPR mobilizes communities to engage with and ensure the success of the private sector initiative; and thirdly, funds flow directly to the communities without any transaction costs incurred by the Programme. Adding further Richard said, UPPR is proud to bring together Coca- Cola, UNHABITAT, the impoverished communities and the schools for such a unique initiative.
Sharing his views, Sandeep Gupta, Vice President, South West Asia expressed, "Access to safe drinking water is fundamental to all communities and we understand that businesses thrive only amidst vibrant and sustainable societies. It also includes spreading awareness among the communities on the ways to conserve and preserve water. We aim to improve the overall standard of living in communities and we are delighted to enter into this partnership."
Adding further, Debasish Deb, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Far East Limited said, "We are privileged to partner with UN-HABITAT in this initiative and are very positive that it will transform the lives of the communities in Dhaka and Comilla. This Project is part of our company’s effort to provide access to clean drinking water. The ‘Rain Water Harvesting & Drinking Water Project’ is integrated with the company’s overall goal to contribute towards creation of water sustainability in the communities."
Also present at the event, Deepak Jolly, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia highlighted Coca-Cola’s association with the UN-Habitat project and emphasized on how the Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation for Local Communities Project in Dhaka and Comilla was a perfect example of a Public-Private Partnership and one of the best ways to provide customized long term solutions on safe drinking water and sanitation to the communities.
The event concluded with Sandeep Gupta, Vice President, South West Asia, giving a Vote of Thanks to all the dignitaries present along with members of the Coca-Cola Business Unit and friends from the media.
The Coca-Cola Company had previously partnered with Plan Bangladesh to launch the 'Rain Water Harvesting & Drinking Water Project' which included installation of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) systems and Water Filters in 5 primary schools in Mirpur and Borguna Sadar areas of Dhaka.
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