Mediaplanet Launches Global Water Crisis Campaign

Mediaplanet announced distribution of its latest cross-platform campaign “Global Water Crisis,” educating readers on the 663 million people who lack clean water and the 2.4 billion who do not have access to basic sanitation. 

The print component of “Global Water Crisis” was distributed within the Sept. 23 edition of USA Today in New York, Washington D.C./Baltimore, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle, with a circulation of approximately 250,000 copies and an estimated readership of 750,000. The digital component is distributed nationally, coupled with a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top national news sites and partner media outlets.

To see the digital version of the campaign, click here.

Highlighted within the Mediaplanet campaign is a new initiative led by Nevada’s Desert Research Institute (DRI) that aims to dramatically reduce the number of people lacking access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries. 

The DRI Sustainable Water Initiative focuses specifically on women—who often bear the brunt of the impact from lack of access to safe water. The DRI Sustainable Water Initiative is an international partnership with WaterAid, Water for People and World Vision. Collaboratively, these three organizations currently have water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs in more than 41 countries. 

In the developing world, women are the influencers, teachers, deciders and economic engine. Providing one woman with clean water and educating her on proper hygiene sets a cycle in motion that impacts her family, her children and her community. Access to modern technology, to education and to adequate water sources ensures her family’s wellbeing so they do not lose productive days due to waterborne illnesses or the physical hardship of carrying water. 

“As part of DRI’s Global Water Knowledge Campaign, this Initiative builds on more than 20 years of water research and training our scientists have done in West Africa,” said Dr. Stephen Wells, DRI president. “By raising support to provide women throughout these developing countries with access to adequate water sources and access to training we will ensure their family’s well-being and allow them more time to contribute to their villages.”

Dr. Braimah Apambire, a native of Ghana who leads the Initiative and serves as director of DRI’s Center for International Water and Sustainability, explained that funding will go directly to supporting provision of safe drinking water and basic sanitation; creating and implementing WASH education materials for women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa; training of WASH staff; applied water research; and ensuring that WASH projects are sustainable and scalable in developing countries.

Source: Desert Research Institute