Globally, 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and almost half of the world’s population (3.6 billion) lack access to safely managed sanitation, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2023.

Climate change events also impact access to water, with some areas experiencing long droughts, forcing families to relocate to find new means of livelihood, and other areas flooded, which disrupts access to services, including education.

Many of the programs supported by GPE in partner countries include renovation of water and sanitation facilities in schools. Because access to potable water for drinking, and clean, functioning toilets and hand washing stations for good hygiene are essential to keep children healthy and able to learn.