The HEINEKEN Africa Foundation

On the occasion of World Water Week, the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation commits 5 million euros to fight COVID-19 in Africa in the coming year. As a first step, the Foundation will support WaterAid and World Vision with 2.5 million euros. With this support vulnerable communities in 8 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will receive access to water, soap and hygiene information.

Africa is experiencing a continuing increase in Covid-19 cases in a growing number of countries. Coordination between the public and private sectors is essential to fight the spread of the virus. Amongst the measures being taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19, hand washing is known to be particularly effective. Unfortunately, the majority of people in sub-Saharan Africa do not have the possibility to wash their hands with water and soap at home.

Since 2007 the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation has focussed on improving the health of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa, committing over 10 million Euros to 119 projects. A key focus for the Foundation has been improving water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). As WASH plays an important role in reducing the spread of Covid-19, the Foundation will seek to increase its impact by partnering with two leading NGOs in this field - WaterAid and World Vision. An initial 2.5 million euros grant will allow them to set up handwashing facilities and provide hygiene information in health centres, markets and community settings in eight countries.

The partnership with WaterAid and World Vision is the first phase in the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation’s commitment to support the fight against Covid-19. As the pandemic develops, the Foundation will review where additional support is needed most for the first half of 2021 based on the developing needs of communities.

_{1 Source: World Health Organization
2 Source: UNICEF & WHO Joint Monitoring Programma - Washdata.org}

About the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation

The HEINEKEN Africa Foundation was created in 2007 with the purpose to improve the health for people living in sub-Saharan Africa. Since then, the Foundation has committed over 10 million euros to 119 projects in 10 different countries. Over the years, the Foundation has built a strong expertise on Mother & Child Care and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects. The HEINEKEN Africa Foundation is a registered non-profit organization and a separate legal entity from the HEINEKEN Company. It is funded through an endowment fund from the HEINEKEN Company and regular contributions. It is governed by the Board of Trustees that bases their decisions upon the recommendation of the Advisory Board. The majority of the members of these two boards are external experts.

Notes to editors

• The Foundation has made available a total of 5 million euros to fight COVID-19 in the coming year. For the first phase, 2.5 million euros has made available to support WaterAid in Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa and World Vision in DRC, Ethiopia, Burundi and Sierra Leone from July until December 2020.

Visit the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation website: https://africafoundation.heineken.com/