Local knowledge is crucial to our success
Water for All has projects in several countries at any given moment. We select partner organizations with as much knowledge as possible of the regions and the people who live there, in order to ensure that the money gets to where it is most needed. We are however convinced that the greatest knowledge of what needs to be done can be found locally. For this reason, we make sure to involve the local community in the planning, implementation and maintenance of the projects. This is to also a way to ensure sustainability. Our aim is ultimately to help people to help themselves.
We always work with a partner
We partner with non-political, not-for-profit organizations. We have no employees but work instead in our various country organizations on a voluntary basis. Each local Water for All organization selects its own projects to fund, which range from large-scale projects to implemented over several years to smaller water installations. All projects must be about water and contribute to providing clean drinking water and sanitation to people in need.
The typical Water for All project cycle
- Employees within Atlas Copco Group or Epiroc in a particular country establish a local Water for All organization and facilitate voluntary donations from their fellow employees, preferably via the salary, which are then matched by the local company.
- The local Water for All organization investigates and selects a partner to work with and subsequently a water project to support, often it is one project per year.
- A typical project could involve drilling or digging a well or protecting a natural water resource. It could also be building a system for rain harvesting, constructing basic water systems for villages or homes, or building sanitation or sewer systems.
- Water for All oversees the project implementation but the actual work in the field together with the local community is managed by the partner organization. This includes training and organizing the local community to use and maintain the new water source.
- The results of the project are reported back to the local Water for All organization which spread the information among its members to encourage continuous donations.
Frequently asked questions
Water for All is the Atlas Copco Group’s primary community engagement initiative. The organization was founded in 1984 by employees of the Atlas Copco Group in Stockholm after they had watched a TV documentary about the severe drought affecting Peru at the time. The original goal was to raise money from colleagues to build a well in the same area featured in the documentary.
When Atlas Copco Group saw the strong commitment employees showed toward the initiative, the company decided to match the funds donated by employees. The project in Peru was successful, and Water for All continued by collecting voluntary donations through employee payroll giving, with matching contributions from Atlas Copco Group. Several projects were carried out to provide people in vulnerable communities with access to clean drinking water.
However, it took nearly 20 years before the Water for All concept spread to other Atlas Copco Group countries. Today, employees around the world either run local Water for All organizations or are working to establish new ones.
Since 2011, Atlas Copco Group has contributed twice the amount donated by employees. This means that if an employee donates, for example, €10 per month, the company contributes €20, resulting in a total of €30 for water projects. Donations from individuals outside the company are also welcome, although these contributions are not matched by the company.
Thanks to Water for All, more than two million people around the world have gained access to clean drinking water.
The principle is that any Atlas Copco Group employee can decide to start Water for All in his or her country. The first step is to form a local board, the second one to make sure that donations can be collected. This is primarily done directly from the salary by the HR department but one-time donations at special events are also common.
Water for All funds projects but the work done in the field is carried out by partner organizations which have to be well-reputed, non-profit and non-political. It is also strongly recommended that they are experts on water and have local staff members in the project country. Another requirement is that the partner makes sure to involve the local community in the project as a way to ensure sustainability and that the new water source will continue to function and be maintained.
All projects have to be related to providing clean drinking water to people in need. Aside from this requirement, the local Water for All organizations are free to decide which projects to support. Historically, the majority of the projects have been devoted to digging or drilling wells, protecting natural water springs, or building water purification systems. Training in sanitation and hygiene is an important aspect of all projects.
Water for All has supported projects on all continents, however most projects have been in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Water for All has no admin costs (these are absorbed by Atlas Copco Group or Epiroc). This means that 100% of the donated amount goes to supporting people in need.