Interview with Zahid Shashoto
Uttaran Paani Project Lead in Bangladesh
In 2024, 1001fontaines expanded its efforts to Bangladesh, a country facing severe challenges in access to safe drinking water, particularly in the southwestern region, where arsenic contamination and increased salinity of water sources endanger the health of rural communities. To address this, 1001fontaines partnered with the local NGO Uttaran to launch a pilot project aimed at jointly building a sustainable model for access to safe drinking water in this area.
Could you briefly introduce yourself?
I have a degree in Environmental Management from North South University and a degree in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University. My research has focused on post-disaster adaptation strategies and the role of humanitarian organizations. Currently, I work with the Bangladeshi NGO Uttaran on water governance, disaster risk management, and climate change adaptation. I coordinate the “Uttaran Paani” project, which focuses on access to safe drinking water and is conducted in partnership with 1001fontaines.
Could you tell us about the project and its tangible results?
Our goals for the next two years are ambitious: we aim to launch and stabilize three production facilities to provide safe drinking water to 8,000 households, optimize the production and distribution model for sustainable service to vulnerable populations, and develop a large-scale deployment plan in this region. Uttaran initiated this effort, called “Uttaran Paani,” at the beginning of 2023, and since the partnership with 1001fontaines began in March 2024, we have made notable progress: two new water treatment production facilities are being constructed in the Khulna province, along with the necessary boreholes. Despite the severe floods since August, which delayed some project stages, we are proud of the outcomes:
- 17,631 consumers are being served by our first production facility in Tala.
- Construction of a second production facility is ongoing in Debhata and will be completed by December, with operations starting in early 2025.
- 356,000 20-liter containers of sage drinking water have been distributed to vulnerable communities over the past 12 months.
Could you tell us about your collaboration with 1001fontaines?
In light of the alarming statistics on access to safe drinking water in Bangladesh, we at Uttaran decided to embark on this innovative project. Partnering with 1001fontaines allows us to benefit from their 20 years of experience in similar projects and move more quickly toward proving the model’s relevance.
Through regular exchanges and field missions, we work closely together to ensure affordable, quality water for marginalized communities. The expertise of 1001fontaines helps us anticipate daily challenges and make the best decisions, especially in selecting water treatment systems. With each visit from the 1001fontaines team, our local teams gain skills in various areas.
During the recent visit of our CFO, what areas did you work on together?
Quentin’s recent visit enabled us to improve the project’s financial monitoring, especially focusing on economic sustainability. We realized that while we are already in a strong position, there is still a need to optimize our distribution channels.
What are the next steps for the project? Any final words?
First of all, we need to complete and launch the two new production facilities! We also plan to conduct a survey among consumers to assess our impact, identify areas for improvement, and expand our reach to enhance the daily lives of communities.
In conclusion, I am convinced that this safe bottled water service, combined with an efficient delivery system, will be key to our success in Bangladesh.
