Water Access Rwanda
Geography:
AFRICA
Type:
GRANT
Mission
Delivering safe water affordably and reliabiliy in Africa.
The Problem
Across sub-Saharan Africa, access to clean water remains a systemic barrier to health, productivity, and dignity. Over 386 million Africans still lack basic access to safe water, and 84% of them live in rural areas. Women in these regions lose 200 million hours annually just walking to collect water. In Rwanda specifically, only 1.6% of arable land is irrigated, leaving the vast majority of rainwater underutilized or wasted, even as waterborne diseases remain rampant.
This crisis is not simply a matter of scarcity—it’s a crisis of infrastructure, affordability, and reliability. Even where water sources exist, they are often distant, unsafe, or inaccessible to the poorest. Traditional water interventions have failed to provide sustainable, household-level access. The result: children missing school, families living in perpetual health risk, and communities without the foundation they need to thrive.
The Solution
Water Access Rwanda is pioneering a triple-bottom-line model that delivers safe water at the turn of a tap. Their flagship technology, INUMA™, creates decentralized water mini-grids powered by solar energy, delivering clean water to communities for as little as $11,000 per grid. In just 9 days, a new mini-grid can be deployed, capable of serving up to 1,500 people, meeting WHO standards.
What makes INUMA™ unique is its integration into everyday life. Unlike traditional aid models that depend on donor-funded boreholes or water trucks, INUMA’s system is a scalable, investable infrastructure product. It provides piped water directly to homes and schools, with built-in affordability through custom financing and pay-as-you-go systems.
This approach is complemented by a robust ecosystem of support: water quality testing, WASH training, rainwater harvesting (via Amazi.rw), borehole drilling (Uhira), and community-led monitoring (VOMA). Through this integrated model, WARwanda has established 1,312 water points, created 92 local jobs (50% held by women), and offset 166.5 tons of CO2e through its climate-aligned systems.
Outputs
1,312 active water points in Rwanda serving 176,979 users
35 mini-grids installed in 2023 alone, with 64 kW solar capacity
865 new connections across households and schools
47,958 users with installed rainwater harvesting or purification systems
9 new boreholes drilled, with an average setup time of 5.6 days
Outcomes
96.7% of INUMA users walk less than 30 minutes for water, compared to only 40% in non-INUMA areas
77% of users express confidence in their water’s safety, vs. widespread distrust elsewhere
Only 1.6% of users report service disruptions, compared to 53.9% in areas without INUMA
47.6% fewer households with INUMA report unaffordable water compared to non-INUMA communities
93% of women in VOMA sites report time saved on water collection
The Opportunity
Donor support will directly expand access to safe water through the rapid scale-up of INUMA mini-grids and complementary technologies. Contributions will reduce health risks, free up time for women and children, and provide the infrastructure for long-term community resilience.
Examples of what your support could fund:
Deploy one solar-powered INUMA mini-grid to serve a rural community
Provide a household connection to piped water with affordable financing
Install a rain-to-tap Amazi.rw system in a school or health clinic
Fund a month’s salary for a local water quality inspector
Supply a new borehole to support agricultural resilience for off-grid farmers
Train 10 community members in water safety and hygiene (WASH)
To learn more or contribute, email us at impact@uicharitable.org and we can help you support this organization through your UI Charitable Donor-Advised Fund.