Ujjivan Small Finance Bank and Water.org collaborate for water, sanitation, and hygiene loans

Bengaluru, November 29, 2023:Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Ujjivan SFB) is partnering with Water.org, a global non-profit organization focused on providing affordable financing for safe water and sanitation, to offer accessible financing solutions for water and sanitation solutions.

Under the partnership, Water.org will assist Ujjivan SFB in identifying areas needing financing for clean water and hygienic sanitation. The support includes technical assistance, market assessment, development of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material, along with monitoring and evaluation. Ujjivan SFB will provide loans ranging from ₹6,000 to ₹1,00,000 to both existing and new customers, facilitating the construction and renovation of water and sanitation facilities.

On the occasion, Ujjivan SFB’s Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ittira Davis said “We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Water.org that will enable us to assist the citizens of India, to live a respectable life. Through the partnership, we aim to provide sustainable access to enhance their lifestyle through upgraded sanitation and safe water, which holds the key to improving the standard of living. This in turn will help them invest their time in more productive initiatives and contribute more to the economic progress of our country.”

 “Water.org sees a lot of potential in the proposed Water.org &Ujjivan SFB partnership. Ujjivan SFB’s strong branch presence & expertise in microbanking space will make a huge mark in further mainstreaming water & sanitation (WASH) lending. We look forward to a journey filled with learning & innovation”, said Mr. Manoj Gulati, Regional Director, South Asia, Water.org.

Having disbursed over 5,000 Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) loans worth ₹30 crore last year, Ujjivan SFB has contributed to the Swachh Bharat mission. This partnership aims to extend the provision of safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities to 65,000 households, offering affordable loans over the next three years. The WATSAN loan, available under the Group Loan category, addresses challenges related to safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and creating low-cost infrastructure for customers.