GETF works through partnerships with government agencies, corporations, foundations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to address issues in water and sanitation, clean energy and climate change and sustainability.

Over more than 20 years, GETF has supported projects in over 50 countries.  The map and country list below show GETF’s international footprint and areas of experience.

 

Some of GETF’s notable partnerships include:

• Global Water Challenge (GWC) is a coalition of leading organizations committed to achieving universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).  GWC accelerates the delivery of safe water and sanitation through partnerships that catalyze financial support and drive innovation for sustainable solutions.  Principal Donor Members of Global Water Challenge include Cargill, The Coca-Cola Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Ford Motor Company, Kimberly-Clark, Merck and the Wallace Genetic Foundation.  The Global Environment & Technology Foundation serves as the executive secretariat of Global Water Challenge.
• The Coca-Cola Company – Since 2004, GETF has supported The Coca-Cola Company’s environment and natural resources department through a number of activities including strategic planning, partnership development and program management.
• The Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) is the signature community initiative of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.  Backed by a six-year, $30 million dollar commitment by The Coca-Cola Company, in partnership with other donors, RAIN’s goal is to provide over 2 million people in Africa with access to drinking water by 2015.  GETF provides strategic and management support to RAIN.
• The Water and Development Alliance (WADA) is a unique partnership between The Coca-Cola Company and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that addresses community water needs in developing countries around the world.  In conjunction with local USAID Missions and Coca-Cola system partners, and with support from GETF, WADA contributes to protecting and improving the sustainability of watersheds, increasing access to water supply and sanitation services for the world’s poor and enhancing productive uses of water. With a combined investment of $28.1 million since 2005, WADA is having a positive impact on the lives of people and the health of ecosystems in 22 countries worldwide, 16 of which are in Africa.
• The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector — to address global environmental issues. GETF supports the program management of nutrient reduction programs within GEF’s international waters portfolio.
• Diageo, plc – GETF has supported Diageo’s Corporate Social Responsibility and environmental sustainability efforts through numerous activities  including strategic planning, partnership development and program management.  Water of Life is one of Diageo’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programs.  GETF assisted Water of Life through the development and management of Safe Water for Africa, a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, the International Finance Corporation and WaterHealth International to expand water service delivery throughout Africa.  For more information, click here to see the Water of Life website.
• The International Institute for Sustainable Seaports (I2S2) is a nonprofit center of excellence specifically designed to support port authorities, their tenants and members of the maritime community.  The I2S2 helps these stakeholders implement sustainable practices to ensure economic vitality while protecting environmental quality and community integrity.
• Greening the G8 - GETF collaborated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an impact assessment and evaluate environmental actions incorporated in the 2004 G8 Summit that was held in Sea Island, Georgia.  The evaluation considered a range of activities including waste minimization; energy consumption and mitigation strategies; water resources, wildlife and habitat protection; efficient transportation and technology use pertaining to all aspects of implementing this large scale international event.
• CitiHope International seeks to promote health, prevent disease and provide cures to rural and underserved populations worldwide. Since 1990, CitiHope has procured, shipped and distributed over $650 million in medicine, medical supplies, nutritional and developmental resources worldwide. GETF works with CitiHope on partnership development and other services. For more information, click here to see the CitiHope website.

GETF supports a number of leading initiatives in the water and sanitation, clean energy and climate change and operational sustainability sectors, including:

Water and Sanitation

• Global Water Management and Sustainability Support - GETF supports The Coca-Cola Company’s global water stewardship programs in a number of aspects, including strategic planning.  As part of these efforts, GETF facilitated the risk assessment of Coca-Cola’s water-related business issues, developed solutions for improving water management and efficiency and helped define a strategic direction on water sustainability for the Company.
• Safe Water Network - The Safe Water Network (SWN) is a not-for-profit organization made up of prominent business and civic leaders dedicated to making major contributions to improving access to safe water by accelerating the development and utilization of distributed water purification solutions for the under-served markets.  GETF provided support to the SWN on market research, technology assessment, and their market positioning.
• Worrell Water Technologies – For this water technology company, GETF provided in-depth market assessments and business planning recommendations.  Worrell Water offers a suite of innovative clean water technologies that help ensure water security for communities and companies.  GETF has advised the company on technology commercialization pathways, business development opportunities, and technology assessment issues.
• World Water Forum 3 - GETF provided strategic counsel and conducted extensive outreach with key U.S. decision-makers and prospective U.S.-based partners to help meet the World Water Forum’s (WWF3) objectives held in Japan.  As one of the world’s largest conferences on water resources, WWF3 focused on trade, technology, policy and business issues facing the future of the world’s water supplies.  In partnership with the Forum Secretariat, GETF engaged key Forum stakeholders from industry, government, and NGOs in order to gain their support and participation in the WWF3.
• International Center for Environmental Finance - GETF’s International Center for Environmental Finance (ICEF) was an innovative environmental finance project designed to help countries create permanent, self-sustaining, market-based environmental finance systems for water infrastructure.  Programs have been underway throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In Kazakhstan, ICEF reduced waterborne illnesses for over 15,000 people in 12 remote villages by introducing technical solutions to current water problems and building sustainable water finance systems to ensure the sustainability of safe water in the region.  The Clean Water Financing Program for Kazakhstan received financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Eurasia Foundation, among others.  In Russia and Ukraine, ICEF worked to convert existing grant programs into revolving loan programs targeting water infrastructure and other environmental problems.

Clean Energy and Climate Change

• The Center for Energy & Climate Solutions (CECS) was founded in 1999 to help businesses, government and environmental organizations develop high-leverage technological, strategic, financial and regulatory tools to foster the adoption of clean energy solutions. The Center promotes clean and efficient energy technologies to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants and conducts client-specific research on a wide range of energy and climate-related topics.
• In December, 2006 GETF’s supported USAID’s Office of Energy in publishing the Powering Health Guidebook to highlight electrification options available for off-grid, rural hospital and clinic facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. The guidebook outlined key considerations for utilizing various energy technologies including capital and operating costs, reliability, durability, emissions output and optimal use guidance. The guidebook is available on the USAID website (PDF).
• Global Climate Change Research - The book Hell and High Water: Global Warming—the Solution and the Politics—and What We Should Do, written by CECS Executive Director Dr. Joseph Romm, was published by Harper Collins in 2006.  This book examines the science of global warming, the history of the debate, and the potential solutions.  Hell and High Water discusses many of the impacts of climate change, from sea surface rise to increased hurricane strength, presenting the best available science in an accessible format.  CECS has also done extensive research on a great range of technologies and market-based solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Brazilian Rainforest Water Program - As part of The Coca-Cola Company’s Live Positively platform for sustainability, Coca-Cola Brasil and its bottling partners launched the “Brazilian Rainforest Water Program” in 2007 to support climate and watershed protection through the reforestation of Brazil’s vital Atlantic Rainforest, an effort that serves to subsequentially rehabilitate the environment, protect biodiversity and restore ecosystem benefits once provided by the area. GETF is supporting The Coca-Cola Brazil Institute by providing partnership development support.
• Energy Management and Climate Protection Support - GETF provides strategic counsel and consulting support to The Coca-Cola Company’s Energy Management and Climate Protection Team.  This support includes development of long-term strategic options and near-term actions to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and cost effectively implement its climate protection programs, including partnership development support.  To learn more about The Coca-Cola Company’s climate protection initiatives, click here to visit their website.
• National Commission on Energy Policy - Since the inception of the National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP) in 2002, GETF has provided NCEP and its staff with strategic outreach and communication support to promote the key findings of the Commission’s recommendations.  GETF has also provided the Commission with research and analysis on a wide range of energy issues that include unconventional oil strategies and alternative hydrogen pathways.
• Climate Savers - GETF’s Center for Energy & Climate Solutions (CECS) supports the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) U.S. Climate Savers Program.  CECS works with the WWF to help businesses develop and implement leading edge climate and energy solutions.  Corporate partners include The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Polaroid Corporation, Nike, Lafarge and the Collins Companies, among others.  CECS works with companies in the program to achieve energy efficiency goals and increase the use of clean energy as well as recognize their efforts through the WWF’s communication channels.  By helping companies set reduction goals and achieve them, CECS demonstrates both a strong business and environmental case for making greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and ways a company can do so without putting up its own capital.  Corporate demonstrations of this type continue to provide a yardstick for what the entire country can do to reduce GHG emissions while accelerating economic growth and job creation.  CECS consultation to both the WWF and the individual companies in this project has helped recruit several companies into the Climate Savers Program and develop pathways to achieve critical greenhouse gas reductions.

Sustainability

• The U.S. EPA Energy Management Workshops was a series of meetings across the United States aimed at improving energy management at water and wastewater utilities. Cosponsors included EPA regional offices, state environmental and energy agencies and professional trade associations. Over 750 participants have learned how to apply a management systems approach (Plan-Do-Check-Act) to improve energy management at their utilities.  GETF is providing follow-up activities with many workshop participants to include energy audits, prioritization of energy opportunities and benefits, implementing assessment tools and securing funding. GETF has conducted workshops throughout the country in all U.S. EPA Regions.  The workshops are based on the Energy Management Guidebook (PDF).
• The 3rd Port Environmental/Security Management System (EMS/SMS) Assistance Project (2008-2010) was a two-year project that supported five public seaport authorities in developing and implementing management systems to address environmental and security issues. In partnership with the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), GETF facilitated the collaborative learning format that has helped over 50 local government entities, including twenty port authorities to date, realize substantial improvement in their environmental, economic and security management performance.  Participants in the 2008-2010 program include the Georgia Ports Authority, South Carolina State Ports Authority, Port of San Diego, Port of Long Beach and the California United Terminals.
• The National Public Entity EMS Resource (PEER) Center is an umbrella program to support Environmental Management System (EMS) implementation within the public sector.  The PEER Center was built upon data and practitioner experiences from over 100 organizations implementing EMSs through five national EMS initiatives.  The suite of ongoing complimentary programs under the PEER Center umbrella include an online clearinghouse of EMS information, case studies and guidance materials; a family of eleven PEER Local EMS Resource Centers located throughout the country to provide local communities with technical expertise, field tested tools, information sharing and support for EMS implementation; a quarterly newsletter highlighting the latest in public entity EMS achievements and a series of technical guidance tools, including handbooks, workbooks, toolboxes and on-line training modules. To learn more and to view the resources developed by the center, visit the PEER Center website.
• Green Investment Screening Criteria for the Municipal Bond Market – Being a sustainable organization is increasingly important in both the private and public sectors.  Sound approaches to green management offer numerous benefits which translate into lasting success.  While these principles are being more actively applied in the business sector, they strongly apply to local government as well.  For local governments, green management can facilitate improved fiscal management, reduced institutional risk, more effective service delivery and improved economic viability.  Working with representatives from the financial sector, GETF developed criteria to help investors determine the long-term viability of local, city and state governments and the associated impact on their bond performance.
• Telework and Emissions Trading Study—(Phase II) – Many urban areas in the United States are confronted with major air pollution and traffic congestion problems. The federal government, states and local communities are working to address these challenges in a variety of ways, while also seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil imports.  Telework is one strategy that can simultaneously reduce traffic congestion, oil consumption and pollution. The business community is a critical driver for implementing and expanding telework in the U.S.  Through a grant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, GETF conducted a study to determine whether emissions trading could incentivize more companies to offer telework programs by providing an additional source of revenue.  Other goals included expanding awareness of telework and identifying barriers to greater adoption of telework.  Local partnerships supporting this ecommute Program worked extensively with businesses to promote telework and explain best practices for implementing such a program.