The 2025 Skoll World Forum in Oxford convened global changemakers committed to solving the world’s most pressing challenges through innovation and collaboration. Among them were Saha Global’s Executive Director 

and Co-Founder, Kate Cincotta, and Development Associate, Eric Awini, who represented our organization in discussions centered around the professionalization of rural water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

A key highlight of the forum was the collaborative spirit among WASH sector professionals. Engaging dialogues emphasized a shared commitment to improving rural WASH services, with participants openly exchanging lessons learned—both successes and setbacks. This culture of transparency fostered an invaluable environment of mutual learning and sector-wide growth.

Reflecting on the forum, Kate shared her optimism about the alignment across the sector and the momentum that continues to build through these global exchanges. “It’s encouraging to see so many organizations coming together with a unified vision for more sustainable, professionalized WASH systems,” she noted.

The event also celebrated the achievements of dedicated peers such as Gayatri Datar and Lonnie Hackett (both Mulago Fellows at the same time as Kate!),  whose impactful contributions at Earth Enable and Healthy Learners were recognized. These acknowledgments reaffirm the importance of collective efforts in driving lasting social change.

As we reflect on the insights and connections gained at the forum, Saha Global remains steadfast in our commitment to delivering professionalized WASH services in rural Ghana. The energy, inspiration, and collaboration experienced at the Skoll World Forum fuel our ongoing mission: to provide sustainable and reliable clean water access to the communities we serve.

Access to clean and reliable water is a fundamental necessity, yet many communities in northern Ghana continue to struggle with seasonal water shortages. In response to this challenge, Saha Global has launched a dugout expansion project in Yakura, a community in the North-East Gonja District of the Savannah Region. This initiative, funded by the Shockwave Foundation, aims to provide sustainable water access for residents who face severe water scarcity, particularly during the dry season.

A Community in Need

For years, Yakura and surrounding communities, including Fushila and Jantongwulanyili, have relied on a single dugout for their water supply. However, this source often dries up between January and June, forcing residents—especially women and children—to walk long distances to neighbouring communities such as Datoyili to fetch water. This time-consuming and physically demanding task not only affects daily household activities but also limits opportunities for education and economic engagement.

Recognizing the urgent need for a sustainable solution, Saha Global has partnered with key stakeholders, including Bonsah Construction Works, to rehabilitate and expand the existing dugout. The project was officially launched with a sod-cutting ceremony attended by the Savannah Regional Minister, local government officials, traditional leaders, and community members.

In communities where groundwater is not accessible, such as Yakura, Saha Global is equipping local women with the skills to treat surface water using its Simple Surface Water Treatment System. This innovative approach ensures that as long as the community’s dugout retains water throughout the year, residents can access a reliable source of safe drinking water.

By training women to operate and manage these water treatment centers, Saha Global is not only improving public health but also fostering local leadership in water resource management. This initiative is part of Saha’s ongoing mission to provide sustainable clean water solutions to hard-to-reach communities in northern Ghana.

Government Support and Collaboration
During the event, Savannah Regional Minister Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe underscored the importance of the project, emphasizing that expanding the dugout would help ensure a consistent water supply for Yakura and neighbouring villages.
“We are aware that the current dugout does not have the capacity to sustain the community throughout the dry season. This expansion will not only increase its depth and width but also reinforce the embankments to improve access during the rainy season,” he stated.

While the initiative is spearheaded by Saha Global, Minister Be-Awuribe assured that it has full support from local authorities. North-East Gonja District Coordinating Director (DCD) Issah Imoro further highlighted the logistical challenges of providing pipe-borne water to widely dispersed rural communities. “Ensuring access to clean water remains a government priority, but due to the distances between communities, boreholes and dugouts remain the most viable water solutions in this region,” he explained. He welcomed the involvement of organizations like Saha Global in bridging the gap in water provision.

A Sustainable Approach to Water Access

The project not only addresses immediate water shortages but also lays the groundwork for long-term water security. Expanding the dugout will increase its storage capacity, ensuring that residents have access to water throughout the year. By working closely with community members, local authorities, and engineers, Saha Global aims to implement a solution that is both effective and sustainable.

According to Francis Blessing Gbandan, a key advocate for the project, the expansion will significantly improve the quality of life in Yakura. “This initiative will reduce the time and effort spent searching for water and enhance the community’s resilience against seasonal droughts,” he noted. “It’s about creating lasting change.”

Looking Ahead
As Saha Global continues to work toward sustainable water solutions in northern Ghana, the Yakura dugout expansion serves as a model for future interventions. The organization remains committed to providing clean water to communities in need and fostering partnerships that drive meaningful change.

The success of this project will not only transform the lives of Yakura residents but also set a precedent for other communities facing similar water challenges. Through collaboration and innovation, Saha Global is making a tangible impact, one community at a time.
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Water is life. Yet, for millions around the world, access to clean and safe drinking water remains a daily struggle. Aswe observe World Water Day 2025, Saha Global reaffirms our commitment to providing sustainable water solutions to hard-to-reach communities in northern Ghana. Through our innovative approach to water provision, we are addressing the region’s pressing water challenges and empowering local communities to build resilience against climate-induced droughts.

Northern Ghana faces prolonged dry seasons that deplete traditional water sources, forcing residents to travel long distances in search of water. To combat this, Saha Global, has began actively expanding and rehabilitating dugouts—vital water sources that serve entire communities. By increasing the capacity of these dugouts, we help ensure a more consistent water supply, even during the harshest drought periods. This intervention has significantly improved access to water for thousands of people who previously relied on seasonal and unreliable sources.

Saha Global is also transforming lives through community-driven water solutions. At the heart of our initiative is our commitment to empowering women as leaders in water provision. We train local women to treat and sell clean water within their communities, setting them up as entrepreneurs who run sustainable water businesses. These women, known as operators, play a crucial role in ensuring that their communities have access to safe drinking water while also gaining financial independence for themselves and their families.

This model not only secures long-term water access but also fosters economic growth within rural communities. By equipping women with the necessary skills and resources, Saha Global is creating a ripple effect of change—improving health outcomes, reducing the burden of water collection on young girls, and enhancing overall community well-being. The income generated by these operators enables them to invest in their families, education, and local businesses, further strengthening the social fabric of their communities.

The impact of clean water cannot be overstated. Safe drinking water reduces the spread of waterborne diseases, enhances productivity, and improves the overall quality of life. With every dugout expansion and every woman trained, Saha Global is making strides toward achieving the global goal of universal access to clean water. Our work aligns with the theme of World Water Day 2025—Water for a Sustainable Future—as we continue to build resilient water systems that will serve generations to come.

As we mark this important day, we call on stakeholders, policymakers, and individuals to support efforts that bring clean water to those in need. Whether through funding, partnerships, or advocacy, collective action is essential in ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of safe drinking water. Together, we can make water security a reality for all.

At Saha Global, our mission is clear: to provide reliable and affordable clean water to the most vulnerable, hardest to reach communities. This World Water Day, we celebrate the progress made and renew our commitment to reaching more people, one community at a time. Join us in our mission and be part of the change by making a donation in honor of World Water Day.

For more information about our work and how you can support Saha Global, visit our website or follow us on all our social media channels.

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This is my first official post as Ghana Country Director and what an exciting time it is to be updating everyone following the CWS blog on what we’ve been up to since the 2014 Summer fellows left.

Thanks to the fellows, CWS has opened water treatment businesses in eleven more communities: Original Kabache, Sabonjida, Janakpam, Manguli II, Wuvogu, Wuvogumani, Changyili, Jangbarayili, Balamposo, Kagbal, and Sagbarigu, as well as set up a solar business in Yapalsi. This brings the total number of communities we are working in to 71! In addition to the newly established water and solar businesses, nine villages are now independent: Tijo, Tindun, Libi, Changashi, Kpenchila, Nyamaliga, Buja, Kushini, and Zanzugu. At Community Water Solutions, self-sufficiency is our end goal in the communities where we work. Data collected over the years of household visits we have done since the inception of these businesses has shown that the centers have been up and running and community members have purchased water at the center on consistent bases. The staff at CWS will still monitor and assist the women entrepreneurs to ensure the centers continue to run successfully, but we are proud to add them to our list of 23 total independent villages!

On the monitoring side of operations, going to the field this week with Amin, Shak, Wahab, and Eric has been a lot of fun. Figuring out the logistics of integrating our new communities into our existing monitoring schedules was challenging, but the guys have done an amazing job with handling the extra responsibility. Having heard so much from the fellows about the women and community members, I was really eager to go and see the new centers for myself! On Monday, Amin and I went to Jakapam, Manguli II, Wuvogu, and Wuvogumani. While the fellows were still here monitoring in their villages after opening day, community members of Janakpam had made it known during household visits that they felt the water tasted too strongly of alum, the chemical the women use in the first stage of treatment. This is typically a learning process when centers are first established; it is not an easy task to ensure an appropriate amount of alum is used to treat the turbidity of the water while also meeting the taste preferences of consumers. When the women heard of this, they wasted no time coming up with a creative solution: adding water from the polytank to the dugout water in the blue drums so that the alum would settle, then adding one chlorine tablet per blue drum scooped in to the polytank. This worked for the water they sold during the first days after the center opened and by the time Amin and I came to speak with the women on Monday, the problem had been completely fixed and community members no longer had any complaints about the taste of the water.

While monitoring with Eric on Wednesday, Arasheitu, one of the entrepreneurs running the business in Kagbal, joined us for household visits. As a way to gauge our efforts to educate community members on the health benefits of drinking clean water, one of the questions we ask households when monitoring is, “Do you know why dugout water is unsafe to drink?” Anytime we asked this question and a community member would respond with, “No,” Arasheitu stepped in to explain why dugout water was unsafe to drink and the negative implications it has for health. Community members also told Eric and I that Arasheitu and her colleagues at the center, Adamu and Sanatu, were teaching people how to collect rainwater properly and reminding people to come and refill at the center with their safety storage containers on a regular basis. It was really amazing to see the level of Arasheitu’s initiative and her enthusiasm for helping her community. Eric and I also lucked out because one of the women in Kagbal had recently given birth to a baby boy and community members were celebrating the naming ceremony. Thanks to the CWS fellows and the women of Kagbal hard at work running the treatment center, this new addition to the community, Abrahim, will always have the option of clean drinking water. That is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job as Ghana Country Director.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with the entrepreneurs and community members of the newly established treatment centers. As with all of the entrepreneurs we work with, these women are creative, kind, and devoted to improving the lives and health of the members of their communities. Their level of enthusiasm for running the treatment centers and the amount of hard work they put in to make sure their community has the option of clean drinking water never ceases to amaze me. I look forward to working with them during my time as Ghana Country Director.