People without safely managed drinking water in 2024. WHO/UNICEF, published 2025.
[1]Agriculture’s share of global freshwater withdrawals. UN Goal 6 report, 2026.
[2]Gap between needs and available financing for national targets in 20 countries reporting to GLAAS.
[3]Water underpins health, food security, production and community life. Where reliable services are missing, the effects reach from children’s education to business continuity. The global water challenge therefore extends beyond the environment: it concerns equal opportunity, resilience and long-term development.
At IBL Finance, we consider the global water challenge an important part of our social responsibility focus. We value informed awareness, responsible resource use and the development of workable projects. Bringing a financial perspective to this area begins with a practical question: can a solution reach the communities that need it today and continue to operate reliably tomorrow?
Behind the figures is everyday life
WHO/UNICEF estimates covering 2024 show 2.1 billion people without safely managed drinking water and 3.4 billion without safely managed sanitation. Safely managed drinking water is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from contamination.
These indicators invite us to consider service quality as well as the existence of infrastructure. Installing a water point is an important start; maintenance, quality monitoring, accessibility and continuity also belong in the solution. IBL’s assessment approach considers community benefit in this broader context.
Scarcity and safe access are different challenges
The presence of water in a region does not mean everyone has a reliable service. Treatment, distribution, operation and access conditions matter alongside protection of the resource. Climate variability and drought can expose existing weaknesses. Solutions should therefore reflect local catchment and community conditions.
The UN’s 2026 Goal 6 assessment attributes 72% of global freshwater withdrawals to agriculture. This is not a share of household consumption. Efficient irrigation, appropriate industrial reuse and reduced distribution losses can contribute at different scales. Each intervention should be assessed for its implications for water quality and ecosystems.
IBL’s focus: from awareness to practical delivery
Within our social responsibility perspective, water is closely linked to human dignity and the living conditions of future generations. We value accurate public information, businesses understanding their dependence on water and project ideas grounded in concrete needs. We assess social contribution through its potential for lasting benefit, beyond the visibility of an individual event.
Our priorities are to develop knowledge sharing on conservation and responsible use, consider ideas with a clearly defined community need and explore where we could contribute to the financial preparation of suitable projects. Local expertise, public institutions, civil society and intended beneficiaries should complement one another. The scope, responsibilities and resources of any potential engagement require separate definition.
Financing reaches beyond construction costs
GLAAS findings released by WHO in January 2026 reported a 46% gap between needs and available funding for national targets in 20 reporting countries. This is a finding for that country group, not a single global funding-gap estimate.
For IBL, this underlines why the operating period deserves serious attention in project assessment. Energy, maintenance, staffing, monitoring and renewal costs need planning alongside initial investment. Continuity of income or support, affordability and downside scenarios together provide a more realistic foundation.
A convincing financial model alone is insufficient. Technical suitability, local capacity and public benefit need assessment by relevant specialists. Financial preparation should make these questions visible and open to informed discussion.
The questions we ask of a water project
Responsible assessment explains how a project will operate as well as what it intends to achieve. Questions guiding IBL’s approach include:
- Which need and which community does the solution address?
- How are current water use, quality and access measured?
- Who is responsible for operation, maintenance and renewal?
- How will financing and service costs be sustained over time?
- Against which baseline will savings or service improvements be tracked?
- How will environmental impacts, local participation and transparent reporting be addressed?
Lasting value for a shared resource
Meaningful contribution requires clearly defined needs and traceable results. A goal of lower water losses, more reliable service or better-informed use becomes stronger when paired with a clear baseline and a sustainable implementation plan.
At IBL Finance, protecting water and advancing safe access are central subjects within our social responsibility perspective. We advocate an approach that shares knowledge, listens to local needs and considers financial sustainability alongside community benefit. Caring for water is caring for our shared future.
Sources and data notes
- UNICEF / WHO — Household water, sanitation and hygiene data, 2000–2024; August 2025
- United Nations — Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, Goal 6
- WHO / UN-Water GLAAS — Global update 2025 findings; 26 January 2026
Published 1 October 2026. Indicators have different reference periods and coverage; percentages do not describe the same sample. This article sets out IBL’s social responsibility perspective and project assessment priorities. It does not announce a completed field project, donation amount or formal partnership.