WaterAid is a 4-star charity with Good demonstrated impact. It has a B Results Reporting, which is average. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity’s reserves can cover program costs for almost six months, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 1987, WaterAid Canada is part of the international WaterAid federation based in the UK. The charity’s mission is to improve poor people’s access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. World Health Organization uses the term WASH to refer to water, sanitation, and hygiene. The charity runs projects for a few years then moves on to new locations. Currently WaterAid runs seven programs in Africa. It spent $3.8m on programs in the fiscal year ending in March (F2024).

Behavioural Adaptation for Water Security and Inclusion (BASIN) is a three-year project that began in 2023. BASIN is researching climate adaption in specific regions of Africa: Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Tanzania. WaterAid Canada is working alongside many universities and NGOs for the project. In Burkina Faso, WaterAid Canada is studying the increase in competition for water caused by droughts and floods. In Tanzania, it is studying a water treatment initiative in Bassotu village.

Community One Health Empowerment in Rwanda and Senegal (COHERS) is a four-year project that began in 2023. The program is run by WaterAid Canada and Veterinarians Without Borders with the goal to train people in Rwanda and Senegal in the prevention of zoonotic diseases. WaterAid Canada is only working in Rwanda and it is focusing on constructing water supply and sanitation facilities in zoonotic disease hotspots.

Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation & Empowerment (IGNIT3) is a five-year project that began in 2023 and is led by SickKids. The project aims to improve nutrition for women and children in Ghana, Malawi, and Pakistan. WaterAid Canada’s role is to improve and construct WASH infrastructure in healthcare facilities and train healthcare workers in proper hygiene practices.

Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) is a five-year project that began in 2022. Led by Right to Play, the project helps young people in Ghana, Mozambique, and Uganda make informed decisions about their reproductive health. WaterAid Canada’s role is to improve WASH systems in healthcare facilities by installing handwashing units, making sanitation facilities gender sensitive, and training healthcare workers on proper waste management.

Project Boond was a five-year project that ended in 2024. It was a collaboration between One Drop Foundation and WaterAid Canada. The project focused on supplying piped water to the communities in Gaya and Madhubani in Bihar State, India. The charity advocated for local governments to fund WASH infrastructure.

HerWASH was a four-year project that ended in 2023. It enhanced the menstrual health of women in Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. WaterAid Canada added menstrual hygiene products to toilets in schools and healthcare facilities. HerWASH reached 510,835 people across the four countries.

Strengthening Wholistic and Inclusive Systems for Health (SWISH) is a new seven-year program that started in 2025. The project aims to make WASH a core part of healthcare services in Liberia, Pakistan, and Zambia by building WASH infrastructure in hospitals and clinics.

WaterAid Canada reported it improved 1,562,000 people’s access to clean water, 1,344,000 people’s sanitation, and 2,628,745 people’s hygiene across its programs in F2024. Some individuals are probably included in all three numbers.

WaterAid Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, which is a best practice. The charity received $2.1m in donations in F2024, which is 57% of revenue. It received $1.2m in government funding, which is 34% of revenue.

WaterAid Canada spent $3.5m on international programs and $338k on Canadian programs in F2024. The total of $3.8m is 105% of revenue. The charity ran a deficit of $697k, meaning it drew on its reserves to fund its programs. It spent $375k on fundraising, which is 18% of donations and $124k on administration, which is 3% of revenue. For every dollar donated to the charity, 78 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range. WaterAid Canada has $1.9m in its reserves (cash and investments), which can cover program costs for just under six months. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Updated on August 25, 2025 by Joshua Leduc. This update has been sent to the charity and changes may be forthcoming.