Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF)

• Final beneficiaries: Low-income households in developing countries, primarily in Asia (South and South-East) and Sub-Saharan Africa. 
• Intermediary beneficiaries: Innovative Water Enterprises serving the final beneficiaries.
• Secondary beneficiaries: impact investors in the water space.  

1. Better access to affordable drinkable water results in significant health benefits and savings -disproportionately favoring women and girls in rural segments, contributing to poverty alleviation, job creation and reduction in inequalities. 
2. Innovative water companies and end-beneficiaries  consume less water resources and cleaner energy. 
3. Increased investments in the water sector in the long-run, by demonstrating financial viability of water businesses. 

Risultati principali attesi:  

• Underserved low-income population segments have increased access to affordable drinkable water. 
• At least 20% of W2AF investees operate in LDCs. 
• Innovative water companies and end-beneficiaries become more efficient in water and energy management. 

Risultati fasi precedenti:   Over  the  last  three  years,  E+E  has  used  its “investment credit” to provide de-risking  trough first-loss participations in two structured funds, i.e. the  BUILD Fund  (structured  fund  providing  debt financing  to  SMEs  mainly  in  LDCs), and N3F (structured fund providing debt financing to SMEs active  in  the nutrition  space  in  Sub-Saharan Africa).  Although these are long-term endeveors, such investment experiences have helped E+E to develop  selection  criteria  for  future  investments. Based on an internal call for proposals, a selection committee  back-stopped  by  an  external  expert have identified W2AF as the best proposal for 2024 in  terms  of  impact  potential  and mandate  fit  for SDC. 

• Social Water Entrepreneurship (Water Section) 
• Portfolio of Impact-Linked Finance projects  
• Portfolio of direct investment through SDC’s investment credit.