The Coca‑Cola Foundation grants $1.3 million to WaterAid Papua New Guinea for urgently needed WaSH programmes in East Sepik province
11-08-2025
Port Moresby: Communities and healthcare facilities in East Sepik province will significantly benefit from increased access to safe water as the result of a three-year, USD 1.3 million grant from The Coca‑Cola Foundation to WaterAid Papua New Guinea.
The Coca‑Cola Foundation has supported WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programmes in East Sepik province for the past three years, providing USD 582,000 worth of grants for projects since 2022.
Papua New Guinea faces a severe WaSH crisis, with some of the lowest access rates globally1. The situation is even more critical in Wewak district, East Sepik province, where more than 53% of rural communities do not have access to an improved water supply, contributing to the transmission of preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery and typhoid2.
Anne-Marie Paul, Country Director at WaterAid PNG, says WaSH-related diseases significantly impact PNG’s weak health system, increasing morbidity and mortality, exacerbating child malnutrition, reducing educational attainment and workforce participation and imposing economic burdens at both household and national levels.
“Water security in Wewak is further compromised by high dependence on rainwater harvesting, but it is insufficient to meet community needs during the dry season and worsened by climate change, droughts and unpredictable rainfall. As a result, many communities turn to unsafe traditional sources—such as shallow, unprotected dug wells—which are highly susceptible to microbiological contamination.”
She says WaSH access in healthcare facilities is also extremely low with the large majority not meeting basic WaSH service levels3.
“Adequate WaSH access in healthcare facilities is essential for patient safety and the quality of healthcare outcomes, particularly for pregnant women and newborns.”
She says the project funded by The Coca‑Cola Foundation’s most recent grant aims to improve access to safe, clean and sustainable water supply in a number of communities in Wewak district. Around 1300 residents will benefit from upgraded water services and sustained behaviour change initiatives.
“It will also significantly improve patient and healthcare access to water supply at larger district hospitals which see over 5,700 users a month. In addition, it will enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the East Sepik Provincial WaSH Committee to inform and scale WaSH systems across other districts.
“By addressing these urgent water security challenges in both communities and healthcare facilities, this three-year program aims to enhance public health outcomes, climate resilience, and gender equity while strengthening PNG’s health system capacity to deliver safe and effective care, transforming the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people,” says Ms. Paul.
President of The Coca‑Cola Foundation, Carlos Pagoaga, says: “The Coca‑Cola Foundation is committed to supporting sustainable, long-term initiatives that aim to provide better health outcomes by reducing acute water access challenges like we see in Papua New Guinea.”
Ends
For further information, please contact Dorothy Bengo on dbengo@ccep.com.
About The Coca‑Cola Foundation
The Coca‑Cola Foundation’s mission is to make a difference in communities around the world where The Coca‑Cola Company operates and where our employees live and work. We support transformative ideas and institutions that address complex global challenges and that leave a measurable and lasting impact. Since its inception in 1984, The Coca‑Cola Foundation has awarded grants of over $1.6 billion in service of its mandate to strengthen communities across the world.
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity. Childbirth is safer, children get the chance to grow up healthy and strong, families thrive and whole communities are better prepared for whatever the future holds. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 29 million people with clean water, 29 million people with decent toilets and 28 million people with good hygiene. Together with our partners and supporters, we are working with determination towards the day when we are no longer needed.
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2 WaterAid, Healthy Climate Resilient Communities, April 2024: https://www.wateraid.org/au/sites/g/files/jkxoof231/files/2024-05/Healthy%20and%20climate-resilient%20communities_final.pdf
3 National Roadmap for Improving WASH in Healthcare Facilites, Papua New Guinea 2023 - 2030: https://www.washinhcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WASH-ROADMAP_2023.pdf
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