Varthana Finance has obtained a $6 million debt facility from WaterEquity, a pioneering global investment firm dedicated to water and sanitation solutions. This funding targets enhancements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities within underserved schools, particularly in peri-urban and rural regions. The capital will exclusively finance school infrastructure projects, equipping budget private institutions with reliable, clean water systems, modern toilets, and hygiene education programs to foster healthier learning spaces.
This partnership underscores Varthana’s strategy to blend financial support with tangible social outcomes, leveraging its extensive network to reach remote educational hubs. WaterEquity, known for channeling investments into microfinance, housing, and small enterprises, marks its entry into India’s school financing arena through this deal. The collaboration expands WaterEquity’s influence, introducing WASH-focused lending as a novel asset class in its global portfolio, which already drives impact across 23 nations via loans to various financial entities.
Steve Hardgrave, Varthana’s Wholetime Director and Executive Vice Chairman, highlighted the initiative’s core value: “Safe water and proper sanitation form the bedrock of effective education. Embedding WASH upgrades in our lending framework ensures student health aligns with academic growth, especially where resources are scarcest. Teaming up with WaterEquity amplifies our efforts to build resilient school environments.”
Echoing this, Amit Agarwal, WaterEquity’s Head of South and Central Asia for Financial Institutions, emphasized equity: “Schools dominate children’s daily routines, making quality WASH access vital for better attendance and performance, above all for female students. Varthana’s school partnerships offer an ideal channel to amplify these upgrades.”
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The move promises broader benefits, including boosted public health, higher enrollment rates, and strides toward UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 on universal water and sanitation management. By merging WaterEquity’s impact investment savvy with Varthana’s grassroots financing prowess, the alliance tackles longstanding barriers to essential services, empowering vulnerable students and communities for sustained progress.
