BORDA in West Africa

For 40 years now, BORDA has been working with more than 100 partner organisations around the world to improve the living conditions of socially disadvantaged groups and to protect the environment. As a civil society expert organisation headquartered in Bremen, Germany, BORDA has a staff of 400 employees and is active in 25 countries. BORDA opened its West Africa regional office in Bamako, Mali in April 2017.

Mali’s current population is about 18 million. Approximately three quarters of the population has access to a drinking water supply that is “at least basic”, and a bit less than a third has access to “at least basic” sanitation, according to the 2017 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme progress report. This report establishes the first-ever national, regional and global baseline estimates for the new SDG indicators for “safely managed” drinking water and sanitation services – meaning drinking water at home that is free from contamination and available when needed, and toilets from which excreta are treated and disposed of safely. Estimates for “safely managed” services are not yet available for Mali, where high population growth and alarming rates of urbanisation further complicate the situation.

Clean water and safe sanitation for all – by the year 2030. This is the commitment the global community has made with the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. BORDA West Africa will pursue the organisation’s vision for enabling all people to make their communities comfortable places to live, develop their full potential in liveable cities and settlements, and actively shape their environment – regardless of income, gender, origin, place of residence, culture, and religion. In order to realize this vision, BORDA West Africa will strive to offer a holistic approach to improving sustainable access to water and sanitation.