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Request for Proposals Response deadline: October 08, 2020 by 5:00 pm BST Scope of work A. Overview For 30 years, Water.org has been at the forefront of developing and delivering sustainable solutions to the global water crisis. Water.org pioneers innovative, community-driven and market-based solutions to provide universal access to safe water and sanitation, giving women hope, children health and communities a future. To date, Water.org has positively transformed millions of lives around the world, ensuring a better life for generations ahead. Through its flagship WaterCredit model, Water.org provides financial and technical assistance to local institutions (primarily microfinance institutions), building their capacity to offer affordable financing for water supply and sanitation services (WSS) to customers at the base of the economic pyramid (BOP). These financial products are designed based on an analysis of local market demand. Philanthropic resources provide the up-front technical assistance financial institutions need to develop these new loan portfolios. The end result: more people empowered with safe water and toilets and a sustainable, local market built for those at the BOP. WaterCredit has reached more than 29 million people across 13 countries through six million microloans. The average size of a WaterCredit loan is US$364, and the global average repayment of a WaterCredit loan since 2003 is 99 percent. Further, more than 87 percent of borrowers are women. More details can be found on the organization’s website. Water.org is implementing a four-year initiative, from September 2018 – August 2022, to expand its WaterCredit activities to reach an estimated 520,000 people with safe water and/or sanitation in Bangladesh. This initiative will expand upon the MFI-led WaterCredit model as well as develop and test innovative approaches to sustainable water and sanitation solutions in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, Water.org has identified and partnered with six local microfinance institutions (MFIs) to further develop and scale sustainable financial products that empower those at the base of the pyramid (BOP) to invest in their own water and sanitation needs. This includes the construction of water improvements and/or toilets within their homes. Water.org is also supporting the local organizations in conducting education campaigns and build awareness of critical hygiene practices, enabling sustainable improvements in community health and well-being. The project is being implemented by the MFIs in 61 of the 64 districts across all 8 divisions of Bangladesh. |
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