RWANDA – Multinational consumer goods company, Unilever, has launched a community- based social project to supply clean water to over 10,000 beneficiaries in Rwanda, reports New Times Rwanda. 

According to Kelvin Kuria, Country Director of Unilever Rwanda, the company has launched four water constructed at a cost of US$50,000.

Mr kuria said that the project was launched in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Water and sanitation support and affirms Unilever’s commitment in promoting sustainability.

“The project shows our commitment to improve the health and well-being of society, especially women and children.

We hope to keep the children in school by saving them from spending 2 hours every day fetching water as well as help their mothers to be more productive at home,” Kuria said.

Francois Habitegeko, the Mayor of Nyaruguru district, said that Unilever support is a timely intervention in implementing Rwanda’s vision to increase water access.

“Unilever’s social support is an addition to the projects will ensure all people have close access to water.

By working with the private sector, such as Unilever, the district will connect all people to clean water by 2021 before the set target of 2024 under the Seven Year Programme,” he said.

Considerable population in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, where Unilever Tea is currently investing in the tea sector, are affected by lack of access to clean water have been receiving support from the company to access clean water.

The launch was also attended by Anthony Esyalai, Head of Marketing-Homecare Division, Unilever East Africa, Janvier Gashema, the vice-Mayor in charge of Economic Development, Francois Habitegeko among others.

Rwanda envisions reaching 100% water accessibility by 2024.

In 2017, following the deal multimillion agreement signed by the Government and Unilever to construct a tea processing factory and develop two large-scale tea sites in the district, Unilever launched a US$30 Million Tea Project in Nyaruguru.

The project aims at plating around 3500 hectares to boost tea production in the country and help burgeon Rwanda tea on the international market.

Unilever operates in more than 190 countries and makes and sells around 400 brands around the world.

Unilever Rwanda has two entities, Unilever Tea and Unilever Consumer Business, and provides social support to the community.