The Authors
Justin
Story
"It is so poor that a humanitarian crisis like a water shortage is enough to rattle a resource-thin government to its core, yet it rarely faces the kinds of calamities, like civil war, that normally spur the international community into action."
Tamerra Griffin for Buzzfeed News

The world has turned its attention to Cape Town and its current water crisis but it is far from alone.

Madagascar is currently experiencing a drought that has led to significant impacts on the environment, human health and the economy. It is a ‘silent crisis’ and one of many being experienced globally.

Delivering the widespread change needed to systematically overcome these crises requires partnership and an understanding of the collective strengths that multiple parties offer. In Cape Town Coca-Cola is working to provide a short-term response by leveraging its logistical strengths, the community is rallying to reduce its water use and the government is urgently investing in new water supply sources.

These efforts are urgent, but not unique. In 2017 alone, businesses invested nearly $23.4 billion to finance water projects, according to CDP.

Public-private-community partnerships are by no means a new idea and therein lies the problem. How can we successfully maintain or even enhance the momentum for change?

Recognising the value of water can help ensure that the critical investments needed to meet the water challenge – from policy to infrastructure – don’t fall off the list of global priorities. However, when it rains again, we risk forgetting the ‘silent crisis’ once more.

This insight was written in response to the article ‘This Is What It’s Like When Your Country Runs Out Of Water’ by Tamerra Griffin which first appeared on buzzfeednews.com on 3 February 2018.