Water & sanitation

Access to water and sanitation constitute both a need and a basic right for people all over the world. It affects public health, gender equality, the environment and economic processes.

What we do

Access to drinking water and sanitation

Through a partnership with users groups and public operators, we contribute to the construction of infrastructure in view of improving peoples’ access to drinking water. We increase production capacities, develop water distribution networks and improve water quality. As a consequence, water chores, which are usually carried out by women and young girls, become less time consuming.

We help people to improve the local environment, mostly through awareness-raising activities and the installation of equipment (drainage of runoff, evacuation and treatment of waste water, latrines, etc.).

Water & agriculture

We also intervene in the area of water for production aiming to enhance agricultural productivity, to foster the diversification of production and year-round cultivation. To do so, we build infrastructures to store and supply water to the crops and to protect farm land from the risks of flooding (dams, embankments, irrigation networks, wells, etc.). We also assist users with putting in place management systems for these installations.

Capacity development

We provide advice to our partners and strengthen the actors involved in water management – from user-consumers up to the state departments and including water professionals. Governance of the sector, and the planning and the management of infrastructure constitute essential axes of our assistance in view of ensuring sustainable service-delivery and the right to water.

Integrated Water Resources Management

Integrated Water Resources Management is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital eco-systems (Global Water Partnership, 2000).

To enhance the sustainability of water resources we support the various actors and users to work together through the installation of Integrated Water Resources Management programmes.

News & Events

team enabel and VITO posing for a picture at enabel office News

16 February 2026

Enabel and VITO strengthen their collaboration to accelerate sustainable solutions in Africa and beyond

Enabel and VITO expand partnership to drive climate action, renewable energy and sustainable innovation in Africa.

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A man presenting in front of a white board with post its. News

12 February 2026

“Small-scale farmers worldwide struggle to make a dignified living from their work”

From Junior Expert to Country Representative in Uganda for Broederlijk Delen. Bram went to work in Uganda in 2017, 9 years later he’s still living there.

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stefan goethaert and jean van wetter sitting at a table News

06 February 2026

Colruyt Group Foundation and Enabel launch Youth Incubator

Colruyt Group Foundation and Enabel launch Youth Incubator, a public-private programme empowering young people in international cooperation.

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aerial view of wind turbines in belgium News

02 February 2026

Belgium hosts energy study tour for delegations from Moldova, Ukraine and Palestine

Belgium hosts an Enabel-led energy study tour for Moldova, Ukraine and Palestine, showcasing expertise in energy efficiency, grids and battery storage.

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Resources

30 January 2026

E-learning: facilitating change through action research

Explore two e-learning modules on action research, a powerful approach to continuous learning, adaptive management and stronger impact in international cooperation.

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News

22 January 2026

From Junior Expert to Country Representative: Samy’s journey with the Red Cross in Burundi

From Junior Expert to a country-level role at 28, Samy builds disaster preparedness with Red Cross Flanders in Burundi through hands-on field work.

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