Global Water and Sanitation Initiative (GWSI) – A ten year initiative 2005-2015

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its member National Societies (NSs) have been involved in water programming for many years, though are perhaps best known for the emergency interventions done after a disaster. However, a survey carried out in 2004 looking into the developmental aspect of WatSan delivery by the Red Cross and Red Crescent indicated a significant number of these activities were also being undertaken by up to 60 NSs in 42 countries.

The IFRC developed and launched the Global Water and Sanitation Initiative (GWSI) as a common approach by National Societies to establish larger-scale, longer-term sustainable water and sanitation programmes, which in turn contribute more effectively to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The GWSI, in combination with the MDG initiative and the second UN Decade for Water (2005–2015), was intended to generate more available resources for Red Cross & Red Crescent water and sanitation projects. A number of ambitious targets were set via which to show the consolidated contribution by the Red Cross Movement towards the MDGs. These initial targets – initially five million more beneficiaries to be reached with developmental water and sanitation interventions, and raising the additional funds to pay for these inputs – have already been met and extended, and the Initiative is on course to continue its delivery in the coming five years.