Engaging the private sector in water, sanitation and hygiene

Worldwide, over a billion people lack access to safe water and proper sanitation. Ensuring access to clean drinking water and sanitation for all has become a global challenge of the 21st century. The private sector can play a key role in expanding water and sanitation infrastructure and improving the efficiency of our water system.

To address this critical issue, HSBC and WaterAid Bangladesh jointly hosted a dialogue in Dhaka titled “Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development Goal 6”.

Recognising water as a fundamental driver of socioeconomic growth, Francois de Maricourt, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, highlighted the significant contribution of HSBC Water Programme in building healthy communities and developing national economies.

“Our programme benefitted 2.5 million people by giving them access to clean water and 1.5 million people with sanitation facilities in Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan and Ghana,” said Maricourt. “In Bangladesh, HSBC has been working with WaterAid since 2012, benefitting almost 700,000 people around the country.”

The real benefit of the programme lies in building sustainable community management and achieving the targets set under SDG 6, he said adding that as part of sustainable financial commitment, the HSBC is committed to contribute a total of $100 billion for sustainable growth by 2025.

Companies that are committed to sustainable development like HSBC perceive WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) as a philanthropic or corporate social responsibility (CSR) issue and consider it a core business priority.

Chief guest Abul Kalam Azad, principal coordinator, SDG Affairs, Prime Minister's Office, applauded the joint efforts of HSBC and WaterAid for working consistently towards a comprehensive WASH approach. “The best practice around achieving SDG 6 is to encourage the private companies to run their businesses in a sustainable manner in order to protect our planet,” said Azad.

WaterAid recognises that WASH is integral to human health and dignity in every aspect of life—in the workplace, community and in the supply chain. Additionally, it believes that businesses have the potential to make significant positive contributions to the communities they work with and drive progress towards SDG 6.

Md Khairul Islam, country director of WaterAid, said, “In addition to the strong social and ethical drivers, there is increasing evidence around the business benefits and opportunities for companies investing in WASH, which include direct benefits such as reduced absenteeism and increased productivity, as well as indirect benefits such as staff and supplier loyalty.” A study reveals that every dollar invested in sanitation returns $5.5 in benefits and every dollar invested in drinking water supply returns $2.

A follow-up panel discussion, moderated by Professor Emeritus Ainun Nishat of Brac University, made the dialogue more interactive. Ainun Nishat identified two means of implementing SDG 6: international cooperation and capacity building.

Due to the availability of modern facilities, factories have come up with different options such as green technology, open spaces, evaporating system, lighting fitting and fixtures, and many more.

Rubana Huq, managing director, Mohammadi Group, observed, “The taps of factories are supposed to save water. But when the taps are pressed, they discharge water more than necessary.” In this regard, the imported gadgets on the fittings and fixtures need to be looked at.

It is widely accepted that business models are the vehicle for innovation in order to meet the latent needs of society. Since there is an inextricable relationship between business models and innovation, one way to find innovative solutions is to have an innovators' challenge where existing start-ups can present new business models and introduce ideas concerning water recycling, harvesting, solid waste management, sanitation system and zero liquid discharge.

A study of the Department of Environment finds that with minimum cost of treatment, more than 60 percent of water can be recycled and reused with the available technology. Zero liquid discharge treatment system is a viable option for the private sector as it maximises the quality of the recycled water produced from solid waste.

Moreover, according to Sultan Ahmed, director general, the Department of Environment, private sectors have made significant reforms in terms of adopting technologies. If those technologies are made available to public communities, it would be of great help as they can play a role in protecting the environment.

Unilever, another prominent international brand, fully integrates WASH within its own workplace and manufacturing sites through its “Sustainable Living Plan” in order to follow safety, health and environment standards. Speaking at the panel discussion, Keder Lele, CEO and managing director, Unilever Bangladesh, opined, “Smart sustainable business should be the core of any private company's agenda which offers more than 60 percent growth opportunity and allows everyone to work in a sustainable manner.” Moreover, corporate social responsibility should be replaced with responsible social corporates to ensure the path towards sustainable business, he added.

Matthew K Lobner, group general manager and head of international and strategy & planning, HSBC Asia Pacific, identified three primary areas to facilitate sustainable development for water and sanitation: sustainable finance, sustainable network and innovation.

Furthermore, Kyoko Yokosuka, deputy resident representative, UNDP Bangladesh, highlighted the role of the UNDP as an integrator to bring all the stakeholders together for achieving the goals of sustainable development. The UNDP assisted Bangladesh to receive a $25 million grant from Green Climate Fund to build adaptive capacities of coastal communities for women and adolescent girls to cope with climate change induced salinity.

In the cotemporary world, the WASH crisis continues to claim lives and holds people back from achieving their potential every day. Since the WASH is the prerequisite for the holistic development of a society, the private sector needs to recognise the benefits and financial value of the WASH interventions and make greater investment in the WASH within the company and beyond. Additionally, effective public-private partnerships need to be forged to achieve sustainable and equitable WASH services for all.

Labiba Faiaz Bari is a contributor to The Daily Star.