Overview of the tactic

Across the world, more than 2.1 billion people lack access to safe water. An estimated 785 million people still lack a basic drinking-water service, and unsafe water contributes to over 800,000 deaths annually. The world remains far from achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on universal access to safe water.

The most neglected are those living in small, remote communities. Because governments, service providers, and most NGOs often prioritise high-density areas to maximise impact statistics, low-population communities are often left behind.

Recognising this gap, Project Maji set out to design a financially sustainable model capable of reaching these forgotten communities. Since 2015, Project Maji has implemented and maintained solar-powered safe water solutions in rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Using a data-driven and human rights-based approach, the organisation has documented the “ripple effect” of clean water access on other rights, including health, gender equality, education, and economic participation. 

Rather than treating water as a one-time infrastructure project, this model integrates sustainability, accountability and community participation into system design from the outset. 

The Problem It Seeks to Address

Conventional rural water interventions often fail over time. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, roughly one in four handpumps is non-functional at any given moment. Mechanical breakdowns, weak monitoring systems and lack of maintenance funding result in 1.2 billion USD in lost investment annually.

In addition, heavy reliance on donor funding can create fragile systems vulnerable to shifts in aid priorities. Without long-term financial and technical planning, water systems deteriorate — undermining the human right to water and eroding community trust.

Women and girls collectively spend 250 million hours each day collecting water, often from unsafe sources. Time spent collecting water reduces girls’ school attendance and limits women’s economic participation. Long water journeys also increase exposure to gender-based violence. Unsafe water contributes to preventable illness, reinforcing cycles of poverty. They also bear disproportionate consequences when water systems fail.

Background on Project Maji

Project Maji was founded by Sunil Lalvani after he witnessed two children drinking from a roadside puddle in rural Ghana. Further investigation revealed that their village had a borehole, but its handpump was broken.

Drawing on his background in consumer electronics, Sunil developed solar-powered water kiosks equipped with digital payment and monitoring systems, designed to overcome these structural failures.

How the Tactic Works

This approach focuses on rural communities of approximately 1,000–1,500 people or fewer — communities often excluded from national infrastructure expansion plans. 

The objective is to ensure that no one is left behind, while delivering systems that are environmentally and financially sustainable. Today, Project Maji operates over 480 water access points across Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, serving nearly half a million people with long-term access to clean water. Expansion to Nigeria is planned in 2026.

Step 1: Locate

Project Maji begins with extensive community engagement, consistent with a human rights-based approach. Satellite imagery is used to identify small rural communities lacking safe water alternatives. Field teams then conduct consultations to assess needs, willingness to participate, and local priorities.

Pre-impact surveys collect household-level data on water access, quality, time burdens, and gender dynamics. Communities are involved in key decisions, including kiosk placement. Local and regional authorities are also engaged early to ensure institutional support and reduce administrative delays.

Step 2: Build

Drawing on over a decade of experience, Project Maji installs kiosks and piped networks within approximately one week. Equipment is flat-packed for ease of transport. Where possible, existing boreholes are rehabilitated rather than newly drilled, reducing costs and avoiding duplication of past investments.

Because they operate in Sub-Saharan Africa, Project Maji’s solar-powered designs are adapted to local environmental conditions and built for durability in high-heat and arid settings.  

Step 3: Maintain

Project Maji remains actively involved after installation. Local caretakers are employed, annual maintenance visits are conducted, and real-time digital monitoring allows technical teams to identify and resolve faults quickly. This continuous maintenance model is central to system longevity and lasting impact.

While initial capital investments are covered through grants and donations, ongoing operations rely on a blended finance model. Communities pay a nominal fee for water access using digital tokens. This revenue is reinvested locally to fund maintenance of the systems and caretaker salaries. This approach ensures functionality over time while preserving affordability and accountability.

 Human Rights Impact

Project Maji conducts pre- and post-intervention surveys to assess social return on investment and the realisation of interconnected human rights, including on health, education, gender equality and dignified work. Documented impacts include:

• Reduction in water-borne illnesses
• Increased school attendance among girls
• Greater economic participation by women
• Reduced exposure to gender-based violence
• Improved menstrual health management

Access to nearby, reliable safe water reduces time burdens and strengthens dignity, health, and opportunity. In this way, water operates not only as a service, but as an enabling right that advances multiple human rights simultaneously.