Coca-Cola Africa Launches $25 Million Water Stewardship Initiative to Tackle Water Challenges Across 20 Countries

The Coca-Cola Company, alongside its African bottling partners Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC), and Coca-Cola HBC, has announced a nearly $25 million investment to address urgent water-related challenges in 20 African countries from 2023 to 2030. The initiative, known as the "Africa Water Stewardship Initiative," will be led by Global Water Challenge (GWC) and implemented by partners including The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Unveiled in Cape Town, South Africa, the initiative aims to protect critical watersheds and improve access to clean water and sanitation for local communities. Karyn Harrington, Coca-Cola Africa’s Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, emphasized the growing threat of water insecurity in Africa and Coca-Cola's commitment to enhancing water security and building community resilience through its 2030 Water Security Strategy.

"One in three Africans faces water insecurity," said Monica Ellis, CEO of GWC, praising Coca-Cola's leadership in water sustainability. The initiative will roll out across countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Mozambique, prioritizing areas most affected by water scarcity. Layla Jeevanantham, CCBA’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, expressed pride in partnering with Coca-Cola to support communities facing water challenges and protect vital local water resources.

“We are proud to partner with The Coca-Cola Company and fellow bottlers on this critical initiative to help tackle water challenges across Africa. By working together, we can leverage the expertise of our partners and the knowledge of local communities to help create sustainable solutions that enhance water access and safeguard vital water resources,” said Sonia Ventosa, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Manager at ECCBC.

“Coca-Cola HBC has been part of African communities for more than 70 years, and sustainability is an important part of how we operate. We’re very happy to see this new water initiative come to life and to support the system’s water stewardship efforts,” said Marcel Martin, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Coca-Cola HBC.

Recognizing that partnerships are critical to support this work, the company and its bottlers are collaborating with governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to design and implement strategic interventions. In addition to supporting the company’s water strategy, this effort also aims to contribute to advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation. 

This water initiative will build upon The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF)’s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), a groundbreaking collaboration with key partners and co-funders which helped improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene for 6 million people across African countries between 2009 and 2019. Through 120 projects, the initiative positively impacted homes, schools and healthcare clinics in more than 4,000 communities.