Stephen Klebeck

The Water Crisis: Time to Turn the Tide

Ban Ki-moon, Brian Sullivan, Gary White, Matt Damon, Mahmoud Khan, Stephen Klebeck

Addressing the global crisis where 2.6 billion people lack clean water, Water.org and corporate partners like PepsiCo are deploying a microfinance "Water Credit" model that has already facilitated over 300,000 loans to reach 1.5 million individuals at a fraction of traditional costs. Facing barriers such as distorted pricing and limited capital access, the initiative is launching a new debt fund and advocating for advanced market commitments to scale access for six million more people by leveraging commercial capital. This approach treats the poor as customers rather than aid recipients, creating income-enhancing value while simultaneously addressing critical business risks regarding supply chain continuity and operational efficiency.