SBL bags award for clean water projects

SERENGETI Breweries Limited (SBL) has scooped an award of recognition from the government and Water Aid Tanzania as the best private sector organisation that contributes to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) initiatives for sustainable return to the community.

The award handover ceremony took place during the launch of the Water Aid Tanzania Country Programme Strategy recently, an event that brought together water stakeholders from both private and public sectors.

“We have been championing several water projects in water-stressed areas in partnerships with private sectors such as Water Aid as well as government institutions, with the key goals of providing free, clean and safe water to Tanzanians, we have already reached over 2 million people through our projects, our goal is to continue on the same trajectory to reach as many beneficiaries across the country,” the SBL Communications and Sustainability Manager, Ms Rispa Hatibu said.

She added, “To date, SBL has funded the implementation of a total of 24 water projects in various parts of the country, something that has ultimately provided free, clean and safe water to more than 2 million Tanzanians.”

SBL’s commitment to funding water projects is in line with the brewer’s ‘Water of Life’ pillar, whereas SBL has set itself a goal of enabling the provision of free, clean and safe water in water-stressed areas.

Recognising the significance of establishing strategic partnerships in project implementation, SBL has been partnering with Water Aid Tanzania, an NGO that specialises in the provision of clean water, decent sanitation and good hygiene.

SBL’s commitment and immense investments in the sector are what attributed the brewer to scoop an award of recognition from the government and Water Aid Tanzania as the best private sector organisation that leads the way in initiatives for WASH for sustainable return to the community.

The theme for the launch of the country programme strategy was ‘Ending the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Crisis Together – for everyone, everywhere.’

The event entailed a panel discussion which focused on a sub-theme, ‘A critical look at our delivery practice; A step change to address biological and practical WASH demands for women and girls.

“This falls under our Water of Life pillar which we have been implementing for the past 13 years across the country.

For SBL, to receive recognition from both the government and stakeholders from the water sector further solidifies how impactful our water projects have been to the Tanzanian community,” she said.

Ms Hatibu further noted that, in addition to the completed water projects, the brewer just completed another water project worth 380 million in Handeni District, Tanga region.

“This will be yet another milestone not for SBL but for another community in Handeni which will now have a supply of free, clean and safe water, and in addition to that, we have also provided them with WASH skills which will enable the villagers to sustainably manage the water dam,” she said.

For her part, Water Aid Tanzania Country Manager, Anna Mzinga said SBL has been at the forefront in funding water projects in water-stressed areas in the country, investing hundreds of million in such projects, “SBL has been one of our key partners in the implementation of water projects, their commitment towards this initiative is admirable and this is why we acknowledged SBL for their never-ending support in complementing government’s efforts in improving the provision of clean and safe water in our communities.”