Diageo, the worlds leading premium drinks company, has been recognised today by the Clinton Global Initiative for its work in providing many of the poorest people across Africa with access to clean water.
Today, Diageo announced at the Clinton Global Initiative a new project that the drinks business has committed to funding in West Africa through its Arthur Guinness Fund, which has been created to celebrate Guinness’s 250th anniversary.
The Fund is providing seed funding towards a new enterprise initiative to build a sustainable market for CrystalPur TM, an affordable water filter that eliminates 99.99 per cent of all waterborne bacteria and parasites with no chemicals or mechanical parts. The initiative will benefit over 250,000 people, in Nigeria and Ghana, in areas where nearby surface water is predominately used and water is boiled for drinking purposes. The programme partners with Enterpriseworks / VITA, an international not-for-profit organisation who will support local entrepreneurs in the distribution and retail sales of the water filters, as well as develop local campaigns to educate on the benefits of clean water and hygiene.
Nick Blazquez, President, Africa region, Diageo plc, said today:
‘The Guinness brand has been built on a truly distinctive and unique product, iconic advertising and through its role in local communities. This project in West Africa with the Arthur Guinness Fund is being developed to compliment our existing Water of Life programme which has already helped to enrich the lives of many communities and over 3.2 million people across Africa.
We know that improving access to clean and safe water contributes to improved health and education levels and reduces poverty. I am delighted to have our contribution to the communities across Africa recognised by the Clinton Global Initiative today.’
Diageo’s Water of Life 1 Million Challenge supports community-based projects to improve access to drinking water, as well as aid environmental conservation and deliver capacity-building training with local partners.
In the last three years, since Water of Life started, Diageo’s programmes across Africa have provided over 3.2 million people access to clean water. The 1 Million Challenge aims to give 1 million more people access to clean water each year.
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About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have already improved the lives of 200 million people in 150 countries. Commitments made at the 2008 Annual Meeting are expected to affect almost 160 million people. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; and MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make their own Commitment to Action. CGI will hold its Fifth Annual Meeting September 22-25, 2009, in New York City. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.
About EnterpriseWorks VITA
An international NGO with over 30 years experience in African urban and rural areas of working with multi-national donors, foundations and private sector corporations. EWV have designed, locally manufactured, and marketed such products as irrigation pumps, improved cook-stoves and water filters in more than 60 African and Asian countries, in partnership with hundreds of local firms who benefit from new markets and increased earnings.
EWV’s expertise is in developing markets and products without providing price subsidies, ensuring that the market chain is sustainable after EnterpriseWorks has completed its involvement.
About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.