This video was filmed in 2018, the figures have since changed.
Jibu: Drinking water, a driver of economic and social impact in Africa
Across the African continent, more than 400 million people do not have access to safe and affordable drinking water (Source: UNICEF 2022). In urban and peri-urban areas, centralized solutions are often unsuitable, expensive, or inaccessible for low-income populations.
Jibu offers an innovative response to this challenge: a network of franchised water kiosks, which filter and sell drinking water in reusable bottles. This model helps create local jobs, strengthen economic empowerment, and improve community health.
A high-impact entrepreneurial model:
Founded in 2012 by Galen Welsch and Randy Welsch, Jibu now operates in eight African countries: Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Burundi, and Ghana.
Jibu, which means “solution” in Swahili, aims to create jobs and impact health by selling affordable drinking water through a franchise system of micro-enterprises. It also sells other essential goods (fortified porridge and cooking gas (LPG)).
Jibu selects franchisees (entrepreneurs), provides water filtration systems, trains them, and develops marketing campaigns.
The franchisee then operates the water kiosk under the Jibu brand, creates local demand, and manages their team.
The impact of Jibu:
Danone Communities has supported Jibu since 2019, in line with our health mission, our commitment to innovation, and our vision for impact-driven business. The results are tangible:
How Danone Communities actively supports Jibu, some concrete examples:
By supporting Jibu, Danone Communities helps provide access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations and takes concrete action to positively impact health around the world, in line with Danone’s mission.
people impacted in 2024
kiosks
Jibu Entrepreneur, Kampala, Uganda
“I was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. I’ve always been involved in my local community and am very well aware of the challenges of unemployment and lack of access to safe drinking water.
I am an old friend of Randy Welsch, co-founder of Jibu, and when one bright afternoon Randy explained his idea of water kiosks to me, I was very excited to become part of this great story. Jibu gave me everything I needed to start a successful business – start-up capital, state of the art technology, and expert business advice.
Becoming a Jibu franchisee brought me regular income to support my family and brought to the neighbourhood affordable safe drinking water just steps from their home. As the business is growing I needed a helping hand. This was a great opportunity to generate jobs for people in my community and to bring positive change.”
