Helvetas and Virridy Partner to Expand Safe Drinking Water Access in Madagascar Through Carbon Finance

Helvetas and Virridy, a global leader in water-resiliency carbon credit generation, have partnered to implement the Ranovola Water Program for Madagascar, an ambitious initiative to expand safe drinking water services to hundreds of thousands of people while leveraging carbon finance to sustain long-term operations.

The program builds upon an existing initiative that provides  safe drinking water to nearly 100,000 daily users initially, and will scale to reach approximately 350,000 people across the Diana, Menabe, and Amoron’i Mania regions by 2030. The initiative combines innovative water infrastructure with climate finance, generating verified carbon credits under Gold Standard’s ‘Methodology for Emission Reductions from Safe Drinking Water Supply v1.0’. These credits will be used to offset capital, operation, and maintenance expenses, ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability.

“This partnership builds on our successful efforts in Kenya and Rwanda, where carbon finance has already proven to be a powerful tool for sustaining safe water services,” said Dr. Evan Thomas, CEO of Virridy. “By applying this model in Madagascar with Helvetas, we can expand access to clean drinking water while ensuring long-term financial viability through carbon credit revenues.”

Project Overview

• Carbon Credit Generation: The initiative will generate Gold Standard-certified carbon credits by eliminating the need for households to boil water, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Sustainable Water Management: Water points will be equipped with meters and prepaid systems to ensure equitable access and long-term financial viability.

• Hygiene & Community Engagement: Educational campaigns will promote improved hygiene practices, complementing the infrastructure investments.

Innovative Financing for Long-Term Impact

While grant funding will cover a substantial portion of the project’s capital costs, long-term financing for maintenance and expansion remains a challenge. The carbon credits generated through reduced fuel use for water boiling will help bridge financial gaps, support maintenance and repair activities, and fund future system expansions.

“Ensuring long-term access to safe drinking water requires not only technical expertise but also financial innovation,” said Christian Steiner, CEO of Helvetas USA. “By integrating carbon credit revenue into our water systems, we can create a scalable and sustainable model that delivers lasting benefits for Malagasy communities.”

Helvetas brings decades of experience in rural water infrastructure development, ensuring that the project applies the most appropriate and cost-effective technologies for each community. Virridy will lead carbon credit generation efforts, leveraging its expertise in digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (DMRV) to quantify emission reductions and market the credits to global buyers.

A Scalable Model for Safe Water and Climate Resiliency

The Ranovola Water Program aligns with Madagascar’s national strategy for safe water access and builds on Helvetas’ global expertise in community-based water solutions. By integrating carbon finance, this initiative sets a new standard for sustainable water service delivery in climate-vulnerable regions.

About Virridy

Virridy specializes in water-focused carbon credit generation, leveraging digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (DMRV) technologies to quantify water and climate benefits. By combining expertise in carbon finance with water-resiliency solutions, Virridy enables global investments in sustainable water management. Learn more at virridy.com.