CAWST is one of a small number of Canadian organizations invited to a once-in-a-generation event, encourages fellow Albertans to take action.

CALGARY, March 21, 2022—Calgary charity, the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) is one of a small number of Canadian organizations being represented at the upcoming once-in-a-generation UN Water Conference in New York, March 22–24, 2023. Intentionally scheduled on World Water Day, March 22, this meeting gathers member states and stakeholders to address the significant action needed to end the world’s water crisis.

Shauna Curry, CAWST CEO, says she’s proud of CAWST’s work toward ending the water crisis—one of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). But the deadline for that goal is approaching quickly. If the world doesn’t move four times faster, 1.6 billion people will still lack safe drinking water at home in 2030.

“Progress is happening, but it isn’t happening fast enough,” says Curry. “We all have a role to play if we’re going to reach the UN’s goal on time. This World Water Day, I encourage all Albertans to become more aware of this issue so, together, we can finally end the world’s water crisis.”

According to the UN, the three most popular actions Albertans can take are:

Save water: Take shorter showers and don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth, doing dishes and preparing food

Stop polluting: Don’t put food waste, oils, medicines and chemicals down your toilet or drains

Eat local: Buy local, seasonal food and look for products made with less water

An important element of the conference will be the voluntary commitments for the Water Action Agenda that everyone, everywhere is encouraged to make including, attending and non-attending organizations, governments, academic institutions and other actors. Because water affects us all, we all have a role to play.

The UN is looking for game-changing and transformative solutions to accelerate the progress needed to reach its SDGs. CAWST, a global leader in achieving safe water, sanitation and hygiene, will be making the following voluntary commitment next week:

CAWST announces $3M  over three years to launch the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Capacity Accelerator, which will increase the availability of local expertise by leveraging our 20+ year experience in capacity strengthening, our network of thousands of local training and implementing organizations, and advancements in digital transformation.

CAWST’s WASH Capacity Accelerator will be open to anyone:

already focused on local capacity in their communities

interested in training other organizations

desiring to scale

committed to quality

CAWST is looking for investors to come alongside them with this commitment. Those ready to make the long-term commitment of investing in others because twenty years has taught us that capacity takes time. And it's worth it.

Done effectively, it improves gender equality, creates green jobs and contributes to many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

About World Water Day:

World Water Day is a United Nations observance held every year.  It celebrates water and strives to raise awareness of the 2.2. billion people living without access to safe water worldwide. The theme of this year’s World Water Day is accelerating change. Because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action, and CAWST is calling on Albertans to support them with this important cause.

For more information and to learn how you can help, visit cawst.org.

About CAWST:

The Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technology (CAWST) is a Canadian charity and licensed not-for-profit professional engineering consultancy. CAWST teaches people how to access safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in their homes, schools and clinics using simple, affordable technologies. To do so, CAWST transfers knowledge and skills to organizations and individuals in low- and middle-income countries by offering workshops, open-content training resources and consulting services. To learn more about CAWST and its work towards making water, sanitation and hygiene a reality for all, visit cawst.org.