The Water Project works closely with local in-country teams and partners like Living Water International, The Water Trust, Bridge Water Project, Africa Sand Dam Foundation and IcFEM to develop water programs that last.

We carefully select implementing partners who have long term relationships and commitments to the people they serve. Whenever possible, we expect the work we fund to be carried out by indigenous staff guided by local leadership.

We're committed to funding projects that last. To ensure that happens means working closely with our implementing partners to establish clearly defined goals for each water project, like our Five-Point Water Project Process.

We're passionate about unlocking potential. After all, water doesn't change anything, the people we serve do. Providing access to clean, safe water helps capable and determined people realize the hope they have for the own futures.

Water is only the beginning. So numbers of people helped and points on a map, though important, can't tell the whole story.

Our hope is that by providing detailed reporting on everything we do, you'll be able to better understand how this effort really matters.

Our partners understand that our work must be collaborative. Not one of us has all the answers. We each listen first and lead only when it makes sense.

Each partner brings specific strengths and expertise to this effort. Our job is to share those across our program for everyone's benefit. We're constantly learning and sharing with the people we work with and serve.

The communities are the true owners of these water projects. We expect our partners to fully engage with each of them to understand their goals and aspirations first, offering guidance and wisdom where appropriate, so that over time they own the effort and we're no longer needed.

Access to clean, safe water is not a one time fix. It's only helpful if it remains ...for life. Making sure this happens is perhaps our biggest challenge.

We're working with each of our partners to implement and regularly improve on comprehensive monitoring programs for each of our water points.

Over the first few years, teams visit new or restored water points to ensure that water is flowing and communities remain committed to the project. When they fail, we have failed...but that's not where it ends.

Every broken pump or apathetic community leader is at least partly our fault. Learning from mistakes and being transparent about it is our commitment. So is making it right whenever we can.

Then, when a water project is truly successful, all the good the flows can be a testament to the hope, hard work, and perseverance of those we were priviledged serve.