water for west africa

What water for west africa does

Water for West Africa (WfWA) is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a program of Ghana West Africa Missions (GWAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in the late 1980s after Josiah Tilton's mission trip to northern Ghana revealed widespread guinea worm infection caused by contaminated water, the organization delivers integrated WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure across West Africa, with operational depth concentrated in nine regions of Northern Ghana. Over 33 years, WfWA has drilled 1,250 wells, refurbished over 2,500 more, built water systems and restrooms for 35 rural schools, established more than 1,300 Water Sanitation Committees, and trained 120 Area Pump Mechanics, reaching approximately 2.5 million people and reducing infant mortality by nearly 20 percent in served communities.

WfWA's core technical offerings include borehole drilling, hand-pump installation, solar-powered mechanized pumping systems, well refurbishment, sanitation infrastructure (latrines and handwashing stations), and community-led total sanitation (CLTS) hygiene education. The organization has pioneered groundwater-replenishment work through reforestation of catchment areas in partnership with local governments and NGOs. Underlying its service delivery is a deep ecosystem asset: trained Ghanaian drilling teams, the largest water-well equipment sales outlet in Ghana's Northern Region, and a network of community-owned WATSAN committees that ensure multi-decade sustainability of installations. Recent expansion has introduced solar-powered boreholes, refugee-response programming with UNHCR, wildlife-corridor water solutions, and women's economic empowerment through the Shea Investment and Jobs Creation Program (SHIP) with Global Shea Alliance, eos Products, and GIZ.

WfWA's revenue model is entirely donation-driven. Income streams include individual giving ($37 sponsors one person's clean water access), corporate well sponsorships ($7,500 fully funds a village water project), foundation and corporate grants, and institutional funding from USAID, UNICEF, World Vision, GIZ, CRS, WaterAid, and UNHCR. Go-to-market is community- and faith-led: donor acquisition occurs through church networks, personal fundraising events (birthdays, weddings, walks), digital content marketing, and strategic storytelling about beneficiary communities. Beneficiaries are predominantly rural Ghanaian farming communities, rural schools, healthcare facilities (CHPS compounds), refugee populations, and women's shea cooperatives in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

Name

water for west africa

Legal name

Ghana West Africa Missions

Website

https://waterforwestafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Water for West Africa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under Ghana West Africa Missions that delivers integrated WASH infrastructure (borehole drilling, solar-powered pumps, sanitation, hygiene education) to rural communities, schools, healthcare facilities, and refugees across nine regions of Ghana and newly into Côte d'Ivoire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Clean water access
• WASH programs
• Borehole drilling services
• Rural sanitation infrastructure
• Hygiene education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: Individual donors contribute to fund water projects. $37 donation provides clean water access to one person. General donations support ongoing operations and project expansion.
2. Sponsorship programs: Corporate and organizational sponsors fund specific water wells for $7,500 per village water project. Includes fundraising campaigns and walk events.
3. Corporate and foundation grants: Funding from foundations, corporations, and international development organizations for specific WASH programs and initiatives.
4. Government and NGO partnerships: Partnership funding from government aid agencies and international NGOs for WASH projects in specific regions or communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Water for West Africa is a faith-based nonprofit that develops and supports WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programs in West Africa, primarily Northern Ghana. The organization drills boreholes, installs hand pumps and solar-powered water systems, builds sanitation infrastructure such as latrines and handwashing stations, refurbishes broken wells, and delivers hygiene education and Water Sanitation Committee training to ensure community ownership and sustainability.

Product overview

Water for West Africa (WfWA) is a faith-based non-profit organization operating as a program of Ghana West Africa Missions (GWAM), providing comprehensive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) solutions across West Africa. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of water access products and services including borehole drilling, hand pump installation, solar-powered water systems, and sanitation infrastructure construction. These core offerings are complemented by hygiene education programs, WATSAN committee training, and well refurbishment services. The products work together as a comprehensive approach: drilling and pumps provide water access, solar systems ensure sustainability, sanitation infrastructure protects health, and education/training ensures community ownership and long-term impact. The organization primarily operates in Northern Ghana with plans to expand across West African borders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Borehole Drilling Services Water for West Africa drills boreholes to provide sustainable sources of clean water for communities, schools, and rural healthcare facilities across Northern Ghana and West Africa.
• Hand Pump Installation Installation of durable hand pumps strategically placed near villages and schools, reducing the burden of water collection on women and children while ensuring long-term functionality.
• Solar-Powered Water Systems Solar-powered water pumping systems that provide consistent water supply to storage tanks, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and aligning with climate resilience goals.
• Sanitation Infrastructure (Latrines and Handwashing Stations) Construction of institutional latrines and handwashing stations in rural schools and communities, promoting dignity and reducing the spread of disease.
• Hygiene Education Programs Culturally relevant hygiene education campaigns teaching handwashing, safe water storage, and community-led total sanitation (CLTS), contributing to long-term behavior change.
• Well Refurbishment Services Repair, cleaning, and rebuilding of broken-down wells to restore access to clean water in existing communities.
• Water and Sanitation Committee (WATSAN) Training Training and establishment of Water and Sanitation Committees to ensure community ownership and long-term sustainability of water infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~2.5 million people provided with clean water
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Global Shea Alliance (GSA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Joint partnership with GSA and eos Products (Evolution of Smooth) under Shea Investment and Jobs Creation Program (SHIP) to empower women shea processors with clean water, modern equipment, and entrepreneurship training.
• eos Products (Evolution of Smooth)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership with Water for West Africa and Global Shea Alliance for ethical sourcing and women's empowerment in shea industry.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNICEF Ghana for sustainable resources including clean water and sanitation for communities, schools, and rural hospitals. Recently drilled three new wells in Bawku area using mechanized solar power pumps.
• Healing Hands International (HHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with HHI and Rural Water Development Program (RWDP) for water program drilling over 1,100 wells in nine regions and repairing 545 wells in Northern and Brong Ahafo Regions.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration within framework of Special Initiative 'Decent Work for a Just Transition' of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supporting women in shea processing.
• Rural Water Development Project (RWDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with RWDP-GH for drilling wells and creating dignified jobs in WASH sector, including training local technicians.
• Ghana Health ServicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with Ghana Health Service teams for delivering borehole water and sanitation training, improving maternal care and reducing infections in clinics.
• World Vision InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partnership joining efforts to expand well drilling operations to more communities with additional funds, equipment, and technical expertise.
• Ghana West Africa Missions (GWAM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization - umbrella organization that houses Water for West Africa. Founded by Josiah Tilton and Church of Christ to continue water mission work.
• WaterAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO focused on water, sanitation and hygiene - strategic partner for WASH initiatives in Ghana.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Catholic relief agency working in Ghana as strategic partner for community development.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Refugee Agency partnership providing water and sanitation for refugee communities from Burkina Faso in Northern Ghana.
• IHCF (International Healthcare Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare foundation supporting WASH programs in Ghana.
• EarthXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partnering on conservation corridor projects.
• Church of ChristflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding partner - Josiah Tilton and Church of Christ began raising funds to drill wells in Ghana in late 1980s.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid: International NGO focused exclusively on WASH in developing countries, with active programming across West Africa. Direct comparable on mission, beneficiary segments, and funding model, though significantly larger in scale.
• charity: water: Faith-adjacent nonprofit funding clean-water infrastructure in developing countries, with strong donor-storytelling and individual-giving model. Highly comparable on borehole/well funding unit economics ($7,500+ per project).
• Lifewater International: Faith-based nonprofit implementing WASH programs with strong community-led total sanitation methodology and Area Pump Mechanic training models. Directly comparable on integrated WASH approach and field methodology.
• Wells Bring Hope: Nonprofit drilling wells in Niger and other West African nations. Direct geographic and operational peer with similar borehole-funding model targeting rural sub-Saharan African communities.

Broad incumbents

• Water.org: Large global WASH nonprofit using market-based financing (WaterCredit). Overlaps with Water for West Africa on WASH mission but operates at significantly larger scale with different financial-inclusion model.
• World Vision International: Major international development NGO with substantial WASH programming globally, including Ghana. Direct operational partner of Water for West Africa and a comparable donor-funded WASH implementer, though much broader in scope.
• Concern Worldwide: International humanitarian NGO with active WASH, livelihoods, and emergency response programming across multiple African countries. Comparable on multi-sector rural development model and donor base.

Regional players

• WaterAid America: US affiliate of WaterAid focused on fundraising and advocacy for WASH programs in West Africa and globally. Functions as a regional fundraising counterpart rather than direct field implementer, but pursues a directly comparable mission.

Others

• Engineers Without Borders: Nonprofit deploying volunteer engineers to design and implement WASH infrastructure in developing countries. Adjacent peer on rural water infrastructure delivery methodology and volunteer/donor-driven model.

Emerging players

• Healing Hands International: Faith-based nonprofit partner of Water for West Africa, drilling wells and refurbishing water infrastructure across multiple regions. Operates in similar geographies and shares the faith-based rural WASH thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GWAMissions
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRdF1o82JU77GkIk5OKxo_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/waterwestafrica
• Instagraminstagram.com/ghana_west_africa_missions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waterforwestafrica

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about water for west africa