Girl drinking from a tap

Clean water, sanitation and hygiene for every child

Access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene gives children and their families a chance to flourish. We believe every child deserves – and has the right – to use safe water and live in a clean environment. When children and families have clean water nearby, live in environments free from waste, and wash their hands with soap, they can thrive.

Clean Water Icon

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

3M

people gained access to clean water

2.7M

people gained access to improved sanitation

3.3M

people gained access to handwashing services

A world where all children have water, sanitation and hygiene

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are at the heart of child well-being and are essential for children and their families to thrive. We focus on bringing clean water, dignified sanitation and effective hygiene practices to communities, schools and healthcare facilities. Providing clean, safe water to communities reduces the time needed to collect water so children can go to school, and parents – especially mothers -- have time to earn more money to support their families. Safe, private toilets and handwashing facilities with soap keep children and families free from disease. WASH services at school mean that children can stay healthy and focused on learning. And healthcare facilities equipped with WASH services mean a higher quality of care for patients, including mothers and their newborn babies.

There’s more to be done. More than 700 children still die each day due to diarrhoea caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. The world has pledged to solve this by achieving universal and equitable access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 6).

Our commitment is to ensure clean water, sanitation and hygiene for everyone, everywhere we work, by 2030.

child washing his hands

WASH Business Plan

Featured Report

World Vision's 2021-2025 Global WASH Business Plan defines our commitments, investments and programmatic intentions for our work in water, sanitation and hygiene programming over five years.

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World Vision is reaching one new person with clean water every 10 seconds.

Stories

Malawi well

Sustaining Access to Clean Water

StoryMap

The continuous availability of water—both in sufficient quantity and adequate quality—is fundamental to the expansion of safe drinking water services under Sustainable Development Goal 6. Despite the urgent need for solutions, the enormity of the global water security crisis can make it challenging to know where to begin. 

This StoryMap discusses ways we address water security, including partnering with communities and government counterparts to build a water secure future.