Combating Africa Water Problems to Save Lives and Communities

1. Africa Water Problems: Understanding the Crisis Today Why water matters for health, dignity, and development Rise Relief October 2025

2. The Crisis at a Glance 1 in 3 people in the African Region face water scarcity according to the World Health Organization 387 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to safe drinking water By 2025, nearly 230 million Africans will face water scarcity, with 460 million living in water-stressed areas Sub-Saharan Africa loses 40 billion hours annually collecting water—equivalent to a year's labor by France's entire workforce Sources: World Health Organization, UNICEF, African Development Bank

3. Where the Crisis Hits Hardest Horn of Africa: Experiencing prolonged droughts (worst in 40 years), with 8.5 million people including 4.2 million children facing dire water shortages Sahel and North Africa: Facing physical water scarcity and episodic floods, with countries like Egypt struggling despite better infrastructure Sub-Saharan Africa: Primarily facing economic water scarcity driven by weak infrastructure and inadequate financing despite abundant natural water resources Most vulnerable populations: Rural communities and informal settlements carry the heaviest burden, with women and children disproportionately affected Sources: UNICEF, UN Economic Commission for Africa, WHO African Regional Office

4. Root Causes of Africa Water Problems Climate change: Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and increasingly extreme flooding events disrupting water availability across the continent Population growth & urbanization: Rapidly increasing demand outpacing water infrastructure development, with 21 of 30 fastest-growing cities located in Africa Water pollution: Industrial waste, coal plants, agricultural runoff, plastics and untreated sewage contaminating limited freshwater sources Deforestation: Loss of natural water towers and forest ecosystems that regulate water flow, reduce erosion, and maintain rainfall patterns Infrastructure gaps: Aging or absent water systems, inadequate maintenance, and poor governance limiting equitable access to available resources Sources: United Nations, WHO, Greenpeace Africa, Earth.org

5. Health Impacts: A Preventable Toll Waterborne diseases including cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and diarrheal illnesses spread rapidly in communities lacking safe water Approximately 600,000 diarrheal deaths annually in Sub-Saharan Africa, with children under five and the elderly most vulnerable Globally, 842,000 people die each year from diseases directly attributed to contaminated drinking water 38% of healthcare facilities in low and middle-income countries lack improved water sources, compromising infection control Water storage in homes due to scarcity increases both contamination risk and mosquito breeding, elevating malaria and dengue threats Sources: World Health Organization, 2022; UNICEF Water & Health Report, 2023

6. Socioeconomic Consequences Education: Girls miss school to collect water; school outbreaks from contaminated sources halt learning; inadequate sanitation facilities particularly affect female attendance Agriculture: 95% of Sub-Saharan farming is rain-fed; droughts cut yields and incomes; water scarcity threatens food security for millions Poverty cycle: Time lost collecting water reduces productive hours; higher household costs for purchased water; reduced agricultural output traps families in poverty Gender inequality: Women and girls spend 40 billion hours annually collecting water in Sub-Saharan Africa, limiting educational and economic opportunities Sources: World Health Organization, UNICEF, African Development Bank

7. The Human Burden Behind the Numbers "Every day, millions of women and children in Africa walk up to 3 hours carrying 40-70 pounds of water—the weight of a small child." 40 billion hours lost annually to water collection Girls often miss school to collect water for their families Increased risk of injuries and health problems Photo: Children collecting water in Sub-Saharan Africa

8. Rise Relief Approach: Deep, Reliable Groundwater We drill extraordinarily deep wells reaching 40–155 meters (up to 509 feet) to access clean, reliable aquifers beyond contamination Context-driven siting across diverse terrains in Benin and Nigeria—from sedimentary areas with hard or tar-like clay to rugged, rocky landscapes For perspective: Our deepest wells extend nearly twice as deep as the Statue of Liberty's full height (93 meters/305 feet with base) Each well represents not just a technical achievement but a beacon of hope for health, education, and livelihoods in neglected communities We foster community engagement and local ownership to ensure long-term sustainability and maintenance of water resources Source: Rise Relief Water Matters Program

9. Proven Innovations Accelerating Access Solar pumping systems: 1,000+ installations across Africa with towers ~10m high, 10,000L tanks, and 4-8km distribution networks bringing clean water to villages Water purification systems: Community-run, power-flexible solutions that deliver immediate health benefits by removing contaminants and waterborne pathogens Nature-smart farming: Drought-tolerant crops, mulching techniques, and conservation agriculture practices that improve soil moisture retention and crop yields Blended finance and monitoring: Innovative funding models with real-time remote monitoring systems to track energy production, water flow, and ensure sustainability Source: Innovation: Africa, Healing Waters International, Rise Relief

10. Success Stories and Case Studies Community solar systems delivering up to 30,000 liters of water daily, with UN-awarded remote monitoring technology ensuring continuous operation Sierra Leone health clinics serving 7,000+ patients annually with water filtration systems, significantly reducing waterborne illnesses since 2013 Public-private partnerships like Rwanda's Kigali Bulk Water Supply and Eswatini's WASH projects mobilizing millions in infrastructure investment Local ownership models in Kenya, Rwanda and Somalia have sustained operations since 2013, creating jobs while providing affordable clean water Key lesson learned: Successful projects pair technical solutions with strong governance, maintenance plans, and community engagement Source: Rise Relief, Innovation: Africa, Healing Waters International

11. How You Can Make a Difference Support deep well drilling and robust operation & maintenance funds to ensure sustainable access to clean groundwater for communities in need Co-finance solar pumps, storage tanks, and last-mile piping to bring water directly to community taps, reducing collection time and effort Invest in WASH upgrades for schools and clinics, coupled with hygiene education to maximize health benefits from improved water access Advocate for data-driven water governance and dedicated maintenance budgets to ensure long-term sustainability of water infrastructure Partner with Rise Relief to expand proven solutions at speed and scale, transforming lives through sustainable water access Every contribution helps bring clean water to communities facing Africa water problems

12. Closing: From Crisis to Opportunity "Clean water is not just about quenching thirst—it's the foundation for health, education, and prosperity in Africa." With persistence and partnership, Africa water problems are solvable Every well and tap saves time, protects health, and unlocks potential Join us: Together we can turn obstacles into opportunity—and hope into water Photo: Transformation through clean water access in an African community