Drinking Water: Rural Areas

The UK Government aims to increase economic opportunity and boost resilience in underserved and underdeveloped regions. This includes supporting companies operating in secondary cities, rural supply chains, connective market infrastructure and trade opportunities to create jobs, boost incomes and mitigate economic displacement. We are supporting the transition to climate-resilient communities, economies and ecosystems, promoting climate‑resilient agricultural practices and healthy food systems whilst safeguarding and sustaining nature, including forests, oceans and coastal, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is also supporting the World Bank and other multilateral development banks to improve sustainable access to safe water supplies at scale. The World Bank alone aims to reach 250 million people with improved water supply and sanitation services by 2030.

Overall, as set out in our International Climate Finance Strategy 2026, we will deploy around £6 billion of Official Development Assistance alongside £6.7 billion of wider public finance to mobilise private capital at scale and drive systemic transformation across energy, resilience and nature outcomes. More information can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a3964dc0bea238415c9a417/ICF4-strategy-2026.pdf.