Viva con Agua Foundation

What Viva con Agua Foundation does

Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. is a German charitable non-profit association founded in 2006 and headquartered in Hamburg, focused on delivering Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and education in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The organization has reached an estimated 4.5 million people across 400+ co-financed projects, with 11 currently active projects in seven countries including Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, India, and Germany. Its WASH technical portfolio includes deep well drilling (John's Rig, 100+ wells in Ethiopia serving 280,000+ people), rock catchment rainwater harvesting in Tanzania, solar-powered pump systems in Zambia and Uganda, SODIS solar disinfection in India, and ceramic water filters sourced from SPOUTS in Rwanda.

The organization funds operations through a diversified model spanning individual donations (90% via direct channels), the Aguanista recurring membership program with four tiers (EUR 5–20/month) serving over 4,800 members, corporate partnerships, festival-based deposit cup collection at approximately 100 events per season, merchandise sales through shop.vivaconagua.org operated by Avatar Merchandising GmbH, and mineral water sales through Wasser GmbH with regional coverage across all German states. The ecosystem also includes Goldeimer gGmbH (sustainable hygiene products) and Villa Viva (Hamburg hotel and event venue), with approximately 71% of foundation funds flowing directly to project work in 2024 and over 3.23 million EUR channeled to projects across 10 countries in 2022.

Viva con Agua operates through a network of approximately 20 implementing partner organizations including Welthungerhilfe and BORDA, with affiliated registered associations in Switzerland, Austria, Uganda, and South Africa. The organization's go-to-market emphasizes "positive activism" through music, art, and sport, activating over 5,000 volunteers organized in local Crews at festivals, concerts, and sporting events. Its governance is led by Managing Board members Agnes Fritz and Lars Braitmayer, with founders Benji Adrion and Micha Fritz continuing in operational roles across Villa Viva and special projects.

Name

Viva con Agua Foundation

Legal name

Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V.

Website

https://vivaconagua.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. is a Hamburg-based non-profit founded in 2006 that funds and delivers Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure projects across Africa and Asia, primarily serving communities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Water and Sanitation Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), WASH & Public Health (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) (BPADAIAG), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Clean water access
• WASH projects
• Humanitarian fundraising
• Water infrastructure
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals. The organization states that 90% of donations are received through direct donations. Donation amounts translate to specific project outcomes (e.g., 20 EUR for 10 meters of water pipeline trench, 50 EUR for training materials for an ALL4WASH trainer, 100 EUR for hygiene specialist training in Ethiopia).
2. Fördermitgliedschaft (Sustaining Membership): Monthly recurring membership program called 'Aguanista'. Members pay between 5 EUR/month (Tropfen), 10 EUR/month (Brunnen), 15 EUR/month (Tiefbrunnen), or 20 EUR/month (Quelle). In return they receive AguaSpot exclusive benefits including early access to merchandise, VIP guest list access at partner festivals, and exclusive project updates. Over 4,800 Aguanistas contribute monthly.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, socks, bags, caps, art prints, and water-related products through the Viva con Agua shop (shop.vivaconagua.org) operated by Avatar Merchandising GmbH. Every purchase supports the VcA mission worldwide.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Partnerships with companies for targeted project support with sustainable impact. Corporate partners receive dedicated relationship management, exclusive event invitations, exclusive merchandise, and discounts in the AguaSpot.
5. Festival Deposit Cup Collection: On approximately 100 festivals per season, Viva con Agua Crews collect deposit cups (Pfandbecher) using colorful collection bins, generating funds for clean drinking water projects. Collection also occurs at concerts, tours, and some football stadiums.
6. Mineral Water Sales: Viva con Agua mineral water is sold through retail stores (retailer locator available at haendlerinnensuche) and at festivals. Proceeds support water projects. The organization has a dedicated sales team covering different German regions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Viva con Agua Foundation funds and implements Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects worldwide to provide clean drinking water access to communities lacking basic infrastructure. The organization operates across Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, India, and South Africa, deploying deep well drilling, rock catchment systems, solar-powered pumps, ceramic water filters, and hygiene education programs. It sustains operations through individual donations, Aguanista monthly memberships, corporate partnerships, festival deposit cup collection, merchandise sales, and an integrated ecosystem of social businesses including Wasser GmbH (mineral water), Goldeimer (sustainable hygiene products), and Villa Viva (hospitality venue).

Product overview

Viva con Agua Foundation operates as a non-profit organization network focused on providing access to clean drinking water and sanitation (WASH) worldwide. The organization consists of the core entity Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. (founded 2006), supported by related entities including Villa Viva (accommodation hub), Goldeimer gGmbH (hygiene products), and Wasser GmbH (water product distribution). The product portfolio includes direct project work (WASH projects in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, India, South Africa), fundraising mechanisms (Aguanista membership with four donation tiers, gift donations, DIY fundraising campaigns), educational outreach (move4Water school program), merchandise sales through an online shop, and community engagement activities like the Pfandbecherjagd deposit cup collection program. The organization uses universal languages of music, art, and sport to engage supporters in their 'ALL IN FOR WATER' mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goldeimer: A sub-brand focused on sustainable toilet paper and hygiene products, operating as Goldeimer gGmbH.
• Villa Viva
• Wasser GmbH
• move4Water
• ALL4WASH
• UL4C
• WASH'n'soul
• Rock Catchment
• John's Rig

Products and services

• Viva con Agua WASH Projects
• Aguanista Fördermitgliedschaft (Monthly Membership)
• Geschenkspende (Gift Donations)
• Eigene Spendenaktion (DIY Fundraising Platform)
• move4Water Educational Program
• Viva con Agua Mineral Water
• Viva con Agua Merchandise Shop
• Villa Viva (Hospitality Venue)
• Goldeimer gGmbH (Sustainable Hygiene Products)
• Pfandbecherjagd (Deposit Cup Collection Campaign)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.5 million people reached through project work since 2006
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Welthungerhilfe (WHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelthungerhilfe (World Hunger Aid) is one of the largest German non-governmental development organizations. Viva con Agua partners with WHH as one of approximately 20 partner organizations. WHH provides expertise in development cooperation and implementation of WASH projects. Viva con Agua states it works with about 20 partners including WHH and BORDA.
• BORDA (Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBORDA is a German development organization focused on sustainable infrastructure solutions in developing countries. In Zambia, Viva con Agua partners with BORDA Zambia on the WASH'n'soul project, combining infrastructure, hygiene knowledge, menstrual health, and local accountability structures to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene at schools in peri-urban areas around Lusaka.
• SPOUTS (Social Business, Rwanda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPOUTS is a Rwandan social business that produces ceramic water filters. Viva con Agua supports SPOUTS and uses its filters in project work. The Tropfen (Drop) tier Aguanista membership (5 EUR/month) finances ceramic water filters for two households annually, enabling households to drink filtered water without boiling, saving wood, energy, and CO2.
• Local Authorities in UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViva con Agua builds strong partnerships with local authorities in Uganda to ensure sustainable change and local ownership of WASH infrastructure. These partnerships help coordinate the ALL4WASH in Schools program and the broader One WASH program in West Nile and Karamoja regions.
• Welthungerhilfe (in India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn India, Viva con Agua's UL4C project is implemented in partnership with the Welthungerhilfe and local authorities. The project operates in Chhatarpur, Panna, and Niwari districts, reaching over 50,000 households through WASH behavior strengthening, infrastructure installation, and creative education formats.
• BORDA ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViva con Agua works with BORDA Zambia on the WASH'n'soul project. Together they strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene at schools in peri-urban areas around Lusaka through a holistic approach combining infrastructure, hygiene knowledge, menstrual health, and local accountability structures.
• Avatar Merchandising GmbHcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAvatar Merchandising GmbH (Meiendorfer Mühlenweg 119, Hamburg) is the official merchandise partner of Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. Avatar operates the shop.vivaconagua.org e-commerce platform, handles fulfillment, shipping, customer support, and manages returns. The partnership enables the sale of branded merchandise that supports the VcA mission worldwide.
• Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in the context of the WASH'n'soul project in Zambia, where the Shuko Community School is officially connected to the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company network. The school faced water supply challenges due to power outages and rationing, leading Viva con Agua to install independent solar-powered water systems.
• Football4WASH Ambassadors (Community Champions)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFootball4WASH is a sports-based hygiene education format where community members and students serve as ambassadors trained in WASH behavior change. Ambassadors like Zelenia Mphasi in Zambia's Chainda district teach hygiene practices and conduct football drills with students, creating peer-to-peer learning and community activation.
• Artist Collaborators (Urkundenmotive)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerViva con Agua collaborates with artists for donation certificate designs (Urkunden). Known artist contributors include Nabwami A (London), Sanelisiwe Singaphi, Chelagat Cherwon, and David Shillinglaw. These collaborations add artistic value to the gift donation product and support cultural exchange.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SOS Children's Villages International: A major international NGO supporting children including WASH access in family-based care settings. Operates at much larger scale and broader scope, but is comparable in donor-recurring-membership model and child-focused WASH programs overlapping Viva con Agua's school-based initiatives in Uganda, Zambia, and India.
• WaterAid: A large global NGO focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene across 22+ countries. Overlaps with Viva con Agua's WASH mandate but operates at significantly larger scale with a broader advocacy and policy remit, including sanitation and hygiene as core pillars.
• Welthungerhilfe: One of Germany's largest private aid organizations and an existing implementing partner of Viva con Agua. Strong overlap in WASH project execution in Africa and Asia, but with a much broader mandate covering nutrition, agriculture, and rural development.

Direct peers

• Water.org: Co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org pioneers market-based WASH financing. Comparable to Viva con Agua in donor-driven water access mission; differs in using WaterCredit microfinance model rather than direct infrastructure construction, providing a useful strategic contrast.
• German Toilet Organisation: A German non-profit focused on sanitation and hygiene worldwide. Strong overlap with Viva con Agua's WASH mission, similar German fundraising base, and shared focus on toilets and hygiene education; serves as a directly comparable domestic peer with adjacent geographic reach.
• BORDA (Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association): A German development organization specializing in decentralized sanitation and WASH infrastructure. An existing implementing partner of Viva con Agua in Zambia (WASH'n'soul project), making it a directly comparable peer with overlapping geographies and beneficiaries.
• charity: water: A leading US-based non-profit funding clean water projects in developing countries. Highly comparable to Viva con Agua: same WASH mission, similar donor-membership model, 100% direct-to-program funding pledge, and digital storytelling approach to engage younger donors.

Emerging players

• SPOUTS of Water: A Rwandan social business producing ceramic water filters. An existing Viva con Agua partner (Tropfen tier funds SPOUTS filters). Directly comparable as a smaller, locally-rooted WASH social enterprise operating in East Africa with a social-business funding model.
• Waves for Water: A US-based WASH NGO founded by surfer Jon Rose that executes clean water access programs in developing countries. Comparable grassroots brand-driven WASH mission; smaller scale and primarily disaster-response oriented versus Viva con Agua's longer-term infrastructure approach.

Regional players

• WasserStiftung (WaterFoundation): A German non-profit foundation focused on drinking water access and sanitation globally. Directly comparable to Viva con Agua's core mission, with similar German donor base and similar reliance on project partnerships, but a smaller and less brand-marketed footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vivaconagua/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viva-con-agua-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Viva con Agua Foundation