Harnessing Private Sector Potential

The Trust Fund is partnering with private sector firms such as Google.org, Coca Cola, BASF Corporation and Lane Xang Minerals Limited to harness their financial capacity, know-how and technology in implementing operational projects in the area of water and sanitation, including monitoring mechanisms for Millennium Development Goals in partner countries.

In Laos, the Trust Fund’s partnership with a local mining company, Lane Xang Minerals Limited, has helped to mobilize USD 208,000 from the Company to support water and sanitation projects.  This amount is being matched by another USD 531,000 for the local governments.

In India, BASF Corporation has committed support amounting to  USD 300,000 for strengthening water and sanitation infrastructure especially for disabled people, in the urban and peri-urban areas of Cuddalore district affected by the 2004 tsunami. 

During the fifth session of the World Urban Forum held in Rio de Janeiro in March 2010, UN-HABITAT and the Coca-Cola Company announced a USD 1 million partnership to undertake partnership projects to improve community access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation in countries in Asia, Africa and South America over the next two years. This partnership builds on the earlier partnership between UN-Habitat and Coca-Cola which undertook water conservation, sanitation and clean drinking water projects in India and Nepal over a three year period.