CARE’s Water+ approaches work to make Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services sustainable, affordable, and fair for everyone – especially women and girls.
Water is one of the most basic resources for any living being. However, billions of people lack safe and sufficient access to this essential right.
Water scarcity affects nearly every part of daily life. It shapes how people drink, cook, wash, farm, learn, and earn a living. When water is limited, entire communities face deeper challenges in health, education, livelihoods, and other opportunities.
CARE’s Water+ approaches work to make Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services sustainable, affordable, and fair for everyone – especially women and girls, who often face the greatest barriers.
We take a holistic approach to water by focusing on ecosystem health and basin-wide water management. This is not just for drinking, but for livestock, agricultural, and other uses as well.
Water scarcity for women and girls
Women and girls are impacted the most by the lack of water. In 70% of households without a water supply, they are responsible for fetching it. This is time spent outside work, studies, and often on top of other chores or responsibilities.
Women have more time for income-generating projects, school, and leisure when they aren't spending hours each day hauling water. Close access to safe water also means less exposure to risks of violence and abuse along often dangerous routes.
How CARE improves water access and management
As an essential part of life, water is central to CARE and our partners’ efforts. It’s part of all areas of our work – from health to crisis responses.
We collaborate with communities, governments, international organizations, and the private sector to expand sustainable access to safe water, basic sanitation, and improved hygiene.
We focus on:
Direct infrastructure and water supply support
We work with government, private sector and community stakeholders to build and maintain wells, boreholes, water distribution and treatment systems, latrines, and hygiene facilities.
CARE and our partners provide training and materials, while communities often contribute labor and support ongoing maintenance. We also work with the private sector to expand access to WASH markets and to build and operate new systems.
During crises—such as conflict or natural disasters—we help ensure people have quick and safe access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Strengthening resource management
CARE and our partners work to ensure water access now and in the future. We partner with governments, the private sector, and local groups to strengthen planning, financing, and sustainable management of water systems.
Our goal is to help people, institutions, and businesses think about how to build skills, markets, and resources. The end goal is helping all stakeholders manage, maintain, and pay for a continued supply of safe water and sanitation over time.
Our key approaches are:
Water smart agriculture (WaSa): WaSA helps communities access water for drinking and for growing food. We support healthier soils, rainwater harvesting, water reuse, and small-scale irrigation.
These practices help farmers—especially women—grow more food, increase income, and stay more resilient in dry seasons.
Water conservation and climate resilience: Water security faces growing threats from climate change, inequality, and economic crises.
CARE’s Water+ work connects with our programs on food systems and climate adaptation to protect watersheds and local water sources.
We use both traditional and innovative solutions, from rainwater harvesting to modern water-monitoring tools, to keep communities safe in a changing climate.
Systems Strengthening: We work with governments and partners to improve how WASH systems are run and funded. We strengthen governance, financing, planning, monitoring, and institutional capacity at local, regional, and national levels.
This helps communities lead their own WASH services and better withstand shocks like climate events or crises.
WASH Market Development: CARE supports local WASH markets so businesses can deliver reliable services and products. We help develop strong business models for supply, distribution, and maintenance.
This approach reduces reliance on aid and encourages local entrepreneurship. It also creates jobs and income opportunities, especially for women and young people.
- Private Sector Engagement: CARE’s partnerships with private actors have accelerated innovation, improved service quality, and unlocked new financing mechanisms. These collaborations are expanding access and driving efficiency in both WASH and water resource management.
