Pump Aid
{{Short description|International non-profit organisation}}
{{refimprove|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Pump Aid
| image = LOGO PUMP AID TWITTER 400x400.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| abbreviation =
| formation = 1998
| type = Non-governmental organisation
| status = Registered charity
| purpose = Water and sanitation
| headquarters = Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT
| location = London, United Kingdom
| coords =
| region_served = Africa
| membership =
| language =
| leader_title = Chief Executive
| leader_name = Michael Chuter
| main_organ = Board of Trustees
| parent_organization =
| affiliations =
| num_staff = 60
| budget =
| website = {{URL|https://pumpaid.org/}}
| remarks =
}}
Pump Aid is an international non-profit organisation that was set up in 1998. It is headquartered in London and delivers all its services in Africa, mostly in Malawi. Pump Aid is a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) NGO and is part of a worldwide programme committed to the delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the total eradication of water poverty by 2030.
Pump Aid had offices in Malawi and London, and as of 2018 employed approximately 23 people, 70% of whom were based in Africa. Most of whom are national staff in Malawi trained in well-digging and water-pump installation.
History
Pump Aid was founded in 1998 by three teachers working in a rural primary school in Zimbabwe. Two of their pupils fell ill from contaminated water and died. These teachers realised the need for health superseded the need for education and so set up Pump Aid to provide wells in rural communities. The Zimbabwe government estimates that 10% of that country's rural population now accesses water through pumps supplied by Pump Aid.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
In 2006, Pump Aid began working in Malawi where the bulk of its projects are now based. Malawi is the sixth poorest country in the world (by GDP per capita) and is ranked 170 (out of 188{{Cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/MWI.pdf|title=Human Development for Everyone Briefing note for countries on the 2016 Human Development Report|last=|publisher=United Nations|date=2016|website=|access-date=|archive-date=2020-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208072407/http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/MWI.pdf|url-status=live}}) on the UN Human Development Index. 85% of Malawi's population is engaged in and relies on rain-fed small-scale farming and only 11% of small-scale farmers have access to any form of irrigation.
Celebrity supporters of the charity have included Corinne Bailey Rae, Kym Marsh, and Ben Nealon.{{cite news |last1=Wiseman |first1=Eva |title=Corinne Bailey Rae: 'It's mad we think tap water isn't good enough for us' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jan/27/foodanddrink.ethicalliving1 |access-date=6 December 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=27 January 2008}}{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Natalie |title=TV star supports Africa pump charity |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/434988287 |work=Wigan Today |date=4 March 2010 |id={{ProQuest|434988287}} |archive-date=8 December 2024 |access-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208000600/https://www.proquest.com/docview/434988287 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=FitzGerald |first1=David |title=Action hero's battle for water: For those people who were fans of TV's Soldier Soldier, Ben Nealon will be a familiar name and face. David FitzGerald went to meet him |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/335114275 |work=The Western Morning News |date=9 February 2010|id={{ProQuest|335114275}} }}{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 Appeal, Pump Aid |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b087pjsz |website=BBC |access-date=6 December 2024 |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207022615/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b087pjsz |url-status=live }}
Elephant Pump
Pump Aid's improved access to rural WASH programme is based around its take on a traditional rope and washer pump, known as the Elephant Pump.
The Elephant Pump, based on a {{circa|2,000}} year-old Chinese design, is a rope pump consisting of a "rope, a plastic pipe, some rubber washers and a winding wheel". It was designed both to be low cost, with a {{circa|$500}} price, and to be easily serviced and maintained by the local community.{{cite journal |author1=Andrew Swan |author2=Nathan Cooper |title=Innovative funding methods for rural communities and their water pumps |journal=Water Resources and Rural Development |date=November 2013 |volume=1-2 |pages=17–26 |doi=10.1016/j.wrr.2013.07.002}} A 2015 study of 338 pumps in Malawi indicated a significant proportion conformed to water quality standards, and that local community members indicated that repairs are mostly considered "easy".{{cite journal |author1= Rochelle Holm |author2= Robert Stroud |author3= Golden Msilimba |author4= Simeon Gwayi |title=Functionality and water quality of Elephant pumps: Implications for sustainable drinking water supplies in rural Malawi |journal=Groundwater for Sustainable Development |date=2015 |volume= 1 |issue= 1–2 |pages=129–134 |doi=10.1016/j.gsd.2016.02.001}} The name "Elephant Pump" refers to the pump's strength, shape, and reliability.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
As of 2009 the Elephant Pump has provided clean water to {{circa|1.2 million}} people living in rural areas of Zimbabwe and Malawi.{{cite news |last1=Lean |first1=Geoffrey |title=Some people do make a difference |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/321739233 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=31 October 2009|id={{ProQuest|321739233}} }}
Awards and recognition
- Winner of the 2005 and 2008 St Andrews Prize for the Environment{{cite news |title=Man wins prize for 'elephant loo' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7398950.stm |work=BBC News |date=13 May 2008 |archive-date=12 April 2009 |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412130323/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7398950.stm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=1999 to 2023 winners |url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/st-andrews-prize/previous-winners/ |website=St Andrews Prize for the Environment |access-date=6 December 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Pearce |first1=Fred |title=Interview: Water, water everywhere |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18725071-500-interview-water-water-everywhere/ |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=New Scientist |date=6 July 2005}}
- Winner, International aid and development, UK Charity Awards 2017{{cite web |title=Charity Awards - 2017 |url=https://charityawards.co.uk/past-awards/2017-2/ |website=UK Charity Awards |access-date=6 December 2024 |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207065201/https://charityawards.co.uk/past-awards/2017-2/ |url-status=live }}