eWATERpay
Description
In 2014 the World Bank said that “a low cost, pre-paid water supply system for rural Africa will be the game-changer to lift one billion people out of poverty”Each household buys an eWATERtag, registered to their household, (just like purchasing an Oyster card.) In each village at least one water retailer has a £100 smart phone, loaned to them by Africa Water Enterprises, in truth in most villages there are already a few people with basic smart phones. The retailers bulk buys eWATERcredit, via Africell’s mobile money scheme, and then they sell it onwards to households simply by touching their phone to the users eWATERtag. Sellers take 8% commission. This takes place completely offline – no need for $1,000 point of sales terminals linked to the head office like in Kampala’s pre-paid system. The eWATERtaps in each village only operate when an eWATERtag is touching them, (just like contactless payment) and credit is taken off the tag. (See photos on Africa Water Enterprises Facebook.) https://www.facebook.com/Africa-Water-Enterprises-916772458346993/?fref… March 2016, having successfully been awarded a £200,000 grant from the GSMA Mobiles4Development/DFID Fund, the first eWATERtaps were installed in four villages, 200 miles upriver from Banjul, close to the Senegalese border. Within the first 24 hours of repairing Jarreng Village’s broken solar pump and installing the eWATERtaps, 532 households bought tags from the local shopkeeper and handed over between 50 pence and £1 to purchase water. At 1 pence per 20 litres of water the price was affordable. The amount of water credit purchased exceeded Africa Water Enterprises’ expectations and the feedback from users has been overwhelming. For the last two years since the government solar water supply scheme broke they have used open wells, infested with worms, or bought bags of water costing four hundred times more than eWATERpay water.
eWATERpay, a UK social enterprise founded by ex DFID economist Alison Wedgwood, and technology entrepreneur Rob Hygate, is the first rural water supply system to launch in Africa that is low cost and financially sustainable. Currently all taps are built in the country of operation, the integrated circuits and parts are shipped out and local woman build the taps. As eWATERpay grows we anticipate hundreds of local people employed in production, distribution and maintenance of the rural water supply system. Local people can become the sellers of eWATERcredit simply by purchasing the credit on their smart phones via the eWATERapp, they then make 8% profit for selling eWATERcredit. A seamless hub of self employed water sellers has evolved since launching in April 2016. Similarly, contracts with local and national water maintenance companies, pump and solar specialists ensures that as soon as a tap is reported broken via the live LoRa hub a maintenance team is sent out and payment for services is enabled. The system is a fully closed and accountable business generating loop that not only will improve the delivery of clean water to the most poor and remote regions of Africa but also will provide professional services employment for engineers, sales operators, IT and data base managers and local water sellers.
Africa Water Enterprises a UK based charity, supporting eWATERpay, the in house software developers. Working in partnership with government water departments and national mobile phone companies to install eWATERtaps across rural sub saharan Africa. Live cloud based monitoring of all taps and consumers ensures professional maintenance and tailored customer service whilst serving those living on less than $2 pppDFID and Mobiles4Development have funded the initial development and piloting of the eWATERtaps and the goal is to scale up to serve 7 million people by 2030.
eWATERpay
DFID
WEDC
Exeter University
Newton Europe Ltd
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
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Contact Information
Alison Wedgwood, CEO