Blood:Water

About Blood:Water

Blood:Water partners with African community-driven organizations to end water- and HIV/AIDS-related health disparities through organizational strengthening and financial support. We find, vet, and partner with growth-stage organizations operating on the fringes of the funding ecosystem whose work is already evidencing meaningful change. We commit to eight-year partnerships that combine organizational strengthening (OS) investments with flexible funding to advance sustained community-led health and resilience. Communities and locally-led, community-based organizations are already driving meaningful impact through their knowledge, resilience, and innovation. Yet, the development sector has largely undervalued their contributions. Therefore, despite decades of effort and trillions of dollars spent, health disparities in East and Southern Africa persist, driven by complex, interconnected challenges, including the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS and inadequate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). These locally-led organizations are the most effective change agents impacting health disparities, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 & 6. Still, they receive less than 10% of global funding — and less than .1% in flexible funding — to strengthen their organizational health and invest in long-term solutions. This lack of support undermines their sustainability and challenges their full missional potential. Blood:Water was built to be different. In 2024, as it has for the past twenty years, Blood:Water remains committed to supporting the mission, vision, and strength of locally-led organizations — where partners lead, funding is flexible, and communities are honored as the heart of lasting change.

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