The first UN water conference to be held in 50 years kicked off on World Water Day in New York City. Three WaterStep team members, Mark Hogg, Founder & CEO, Zacharie Tossou, International Program and Development Director, and Kellie Moore, Director of Strategic Initiatives, participated in the invitation-only conference. Conference participants worked together to accelerate change to solve the global water and sanitation crisis.
Attendees at the conference included representatives from more organizations outside the US than within, all working together to identify common challenges and obstacles that exist with water around the world. Moore (pictured below with one of our partners from DR Congo) said, “It was an honor for WaterStep to be able to participate on a world stage with others working to address water and sanitation issues. It affirms that the important WASH solutions we offer are timely and critical.”
It was a busy three days full of energy and breakout sessions with the collective goal to create solutions to solve the common water issues around the globe that were identified during the conference. The leadership team from WaterStep left New York City feeling confident that the safe water and sanitation solutions we currently have, do solve the common problems found in communities around the world. New partnerships have been developed that will allow WaterStep to offer our comprehensive WASH solutions via large healthcare providers.
Upon return from the conference, Hogg commented, “Solving the water crisis, our biggest crisis, must harmonize government intervention, NGO involvement and local empowerment; top-down and bottom-up. We’ve equipped passionate people and communities to transform entire regions. Larger NGO’s have enhanced their footprint with WaterStep offerings. At the conference, our elegant strategy was humbly affirmed.”
Exciting times are ahead!