What PSEAU does

PSEAU (Programme Solidarité Eau), founded in 1983 and headquartered at 22 rue des Rasselins in Paris, is a French non-profit multi-stakeholder association (loi 1901, RCS 43387254600026) that coordinates international solidarity for water, sanitation, and hygiene services in developing countries. The organization convenes French local authorities, water agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and private-sector actors with partners in the Global South, operating a distributed network that includes six regional offices across metropolitan France (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nancy, Rennes) and country-level platforms and focal points in priority geographies such as Senegal, Lebanon, Madagascar, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Mali, and Niger. PSEAU serves as the reference coordination hub for French decentralized cooperation on water, with more than 44,000 correspondents, 7,000+ documents and tools in its online knowledge base, and 3,600+ projects referenced in its project atlas.

The organization's core infrastructure is a multi-stakeholder network coordination platform rather than a software product. It consists of an online database (bdd.pseau.org) for actors, documents, and an action atlas; structured country platforms (Plateformes pays) staffed by national coordinators and field animators; thematic and geographic working groups; and an integrated Programme Accès aux Services Essentiels (PASE) that houses sectoral networks including Réseau Cicle (energy access and transition, SDG 7) and the newly launched Réseau Cordée (waste management and circular economy, active from 2025). PSEAU also acts as the principal facilitator of France's 1% Oudin-Santini mechanism, which authorizes French local authorities to allocate up to 1% of their water and sanitation budgets to international solidarity projects, extended in 2006 (energy), 2014 (waste), and 2021 (mobility).

PSEAU does not generate commercial revenue. Its operating budget is supported by institutional grants from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), the Agence de la Transition Écologique (ADEME), the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE), and the six French water basin agencies, all of which hold observer status on its 19-member Board of Directors. The organization also collects membership dues and disseminates free knowledge products (technical guides, country fact sheets, podcasts, video series). In 2025, PSEAU coordinated €32.1M in Oudin-Santini commitments from 183 French territorial authorities and water agencies, while over 2019–2024 the water agencies collectively mobilized a record €101.5M under their 11th intervention programme. Governance is led by Director General Christophe Le Jallé and Deputy Director Guillaume Aubourg, with a Board of Directors representing the diversity of network actors (local authorities, NGOs, water utilities, research, foundations, and private operators).

Name

PSEAU

Legal name

Programme Solidarité Eau

Website

https://pseau.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PSEAU (Programme Solidarité Eau) is a French non-profit multi-stakeholder network coordinating international water, sanitation, and hygiene solidarity between French institutional funders, local authorities, NGOs, and partners in developing countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Water and Sanitation Development Cooperation

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Water and sanitation cooperation
• International solidarity networks
• Decentralized cooperation services
• WASH development programs
• Multi-stakeholder water networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding (Soutien institutionnel): pS-Eau is primarily funded by institutional supporters including the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), water agencies (Agences de l'eau), and numerous French territorial authorities. The organization operates as a non-profit association and does not generate commercial revenue.
2. Membership Dues (Cotisations): Organizations and individuals join the network by paying membership fees (cotisations) as defined in the fee schedule. Membership provides political and financial support to the network, participation in governance decisions, and access to closed working meetings, training, and events.
3. Publication and Knowledge Production: pS-Eau produces and disseminates knowledge tools, guides, newsletters, country fact sheets, and reports on water and sanitation topics, available for free download, contributing to the network's mission and visibility rather than direct revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Programme Solidarité Eau (pS-Eau) is a French multi-stakeholder network that coordinates international solidarity efforts for water, sanitation, and hygiene services. It facilitates cooperation among French territorial authorities, NGOs, research institutions, water agencies, and Southern partners through country platforms, knowledge production, training, and the 1% Oudin-Santini solidarity mechanism. The organization also hosts sectoral networks for energy (Réseau Cicle) and waste management (Réseau Cordée).

Product overview

PSEAU (Programme Solidarité Eau) is a multi-stakeholder network association—not a software product company—that coordinates French international solidarity for water and sanitation access. Its offerings consist of: knowledge products (technical guides, country fact sheets, bibliographical reviews), thematic networks (Réseau Cicle for energy, Réseau Cordée for waste/circular economy), a program for Essential Services Access (PASE), communication products (podcasts, video series), and country coordination platforms. These services are free knowledge resources and coordination tools for NGOs, local authorities, and institutional actors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications and Guides Technical guides, reports, country fact sheets, newsletters, and bibliographical reviews on water, sanitation, and hygiene topics for international cooperation actors.
• Réseau Cicle A sectoral multi-stakeholder network specializing in energy access and energy transition issues (SDG 7), providing knowledge production, project support, and mobilization activities.
• Réseau Cordée A multi-stakeholder network supporting the structuring of waste management and circular economy sector in international solidarity, incubated within the Essential Services Access Programme.
• Programme Accès aux Services Essentiels (PASE) A cooperative program promoting integrated approaches to essential services (water, sanitation, energy, waste management, mobility) and the 1% solidarity mechanism for local authorities.
• Podcast "Eau'sons Coopérer" A podcast series highlighting French local authority actions, challenges, and benefits of international cooperation for water and sanitation access.
• Climate Change Video Series A three-part video series produced for World Environment Day 2025 explaining water resource impacts from climate change, international mobilization, and cooperation solidarity for territorial resilience.
• Geographic Country Platforms (Plateformes pays) Country-specific coordination platforms in Senegal, Benin, Togo, Madagascar, and Lebanon facilitating exchanges and cooperation between French and local actors, each staffed by a national coordinator and field animators.
• Online Database and Tools (bdd.pseau.org) Online directory of actors, document references, action atlas, and pedagogical supports accessible to network members and partners, containing over 7,000 documents and tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 183 territorial authorities and syndicates committed €32.1M to international water solidarity in 2025 (second highest since 2005 Oudin Santini law)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• CIRRMA (Conférence inter-régionale des RRMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-regional conference of regional multi-actor networks (RRMA) that collaborates with pS-Eau on the Essential Services Access Programme, coordinating decentralized cooperation actors across French regions.
• Réseau CiclecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sectoral multi-actor network hosted/facilitated by pS-Eau, dedicated to energy access and energy transition (SDG7). Co-located with pS-Eau's Rennes antenna. Provides joint animation, knowledge tools, and accompaniment for essential services actors.
• Réseau CordéecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA newly established multi-actor network (active from 2025) on waste management and circular economy in international solidarity. Incubated within the Essential Services Access Programme with support from pS-Eau and Réseau Cicle's experience. Supported by AFD, ADEME, and MTE.
• Cités Unies France (CUF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor network of French local authorities engaged in international action. Co-organizes the Rencontres de l'Action Internationale des Collectivités Territoriales (RAICT) with pS-Eau participation. pS-Eau supports CUF's water and sanitation programming and joint events.
• GESCOD (Grand Est Solidaires-Congo-Développement)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional solidarity network for the Grand Est region. Partners with pS-Eau to deploy a staff member in Nancy covering the Grand Est territory, extending pS-Eau's reach in that region.
• RRMA - Réseaux Régionaux Multi-Acteurs (SO Coopération, Occitanie Coopération, France Volontaires, etc.)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional multi-actor networks across France that collaborate with pS-Eau to provide local support, training, and networking for decentralized cooperation actors in their respective regions.
• OFB (Office Français de la Biodiversité)minorOthersFrench Office for Biodiversity participates as an observer member on pS-Eau's Board of Directors, representing state ministries in relation to pS-Eau's activities.
• Occitanie CoopérationregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional multi-actor network for Occitanie that co-organizes international cooperation events with pS-Eau, including seminars on water resources management in the Maghreb region.
• Experts-SolidairesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssociation of international solidarity experts that supports pS-Eau in technical cooperation projects, such as the Mediterranean water resources management partnership coordinated by Occitanie Coopération.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid: Leading international NGO focused exclusively on water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. Comparable in WASH mission and country platforms, though operating at a much larger global scale than pS-Eau's coordination role.
• GRET: French professional development NGO implementing water/sanitation, agriculture, and other development projects. Member of pS-Eau's network and represented on its Board. Highly comparable as a French NGO working on WASH international solidarity.
• Solidarités International: French humanitarian NGO specializing in water, sanitation, and hygiene in crisis and post-crisis contexts. Network member of pS-Eau; highly comparable in WASH-focused French development cooperation.
• Cités Unies France (CUF): French network of local authorities engaged in international action, co-organizing RAICT events with pS-Eau. Highly comparable as a coordination hub for decentralized French cooperation, though broader in thematic scope.
• Association Internationale des Maires Francophones (AIMF): International association of Francophone mayors promoting decentralized cooperation. Represented on pS-Eau's Board. Directly comparable as a French/Francophone coordination network for local authority international action.
• International Office for Water (OiEau): French public-interest organization providing expertise and training in water and sanitation internationally. Represented on pS-Eau's Board. Directly comparable in French WASH cooperation and knowledge production role.

Others

• France Volontaires: French platform promoting international volunteering and solidarity, including WASH-related assignments. Channel partner with pS-Eau. Comparable as an enabler of French international cooperation, but broader in thematic scope.

Broad incumbents

• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): France's bilateral development finance institution and pS-Eau's primary funder. Comparable as a major French actor in international development cooperation, though much larger and operating as a financier rather than a coordination network.
• Croix-Rouge Française (French Red Cross): Major French humanitarian NGO with significant WASH programming. Network member of pS-Eau and represented on its Board. Comparable as a French humanitarian actor in WASH, though operating at much larger scale across multiple verticals.

Emerging players

• Hydroconseil: French water-sector consulting firm specializing in water and sanitation services in developing countries. Represented on pS-Eau's Board (Treasurer). Comparable as a specialized WASH actor in French international development, though operating as a private consultancy rather than network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC36qVQVZ3246RpE_VbWMdow
• Facebookfacebook.com/pSEau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ps-eau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PSEAU