NAIROBI: In a strategic move to enhance access to clean drinking water across Africa, Danish company 4Life Solutions has announced a $3.2 million investment since 2022.
The investment, driven from the company’s Nairobi office, underscores its long-term commitment to the continent as a key operational hub.
The milestone was unveiled during a high-profile event hosted at the Danish Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi, where corporate leaders, policymakers, and development partners gathered to explore collaborative solutions for clean water access.
Speaking at the event, 4Life Solutions Chairperson Annemette Faerch said the company had relocated most of its operations to Kenya, setting up a 25-person office, a warehouse, and a laboratory at the Nairobi Gate Industrial Park.
“This investment represents our confidence in Africa’s potential and our commitment to ensuring that clean drinking water is not a privilege but a fundamental right,” she said.
Faerch further noted that access to clean water extends beyond health benefits, influencing economic empowerment, education, and gender equality.
“Contaminated water remains the leading cause of diarrheal diseases, which account for 500,000 deaths annually, mostly among children under five.
In regions with limited healthcare access, preventing waterborne diseases means fewer hospital visits, lower medical expenses, and healthier communities,” she added.
The investment comes at a time when over two billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water, with 41 per cent of Kenyans still struggling to obtain clean water.
Across Africa, 25 per cent of households rely on boiling water over open fires, a practice that harms both health and the environment.
4Life Solutions aims to address these challenges through its innovative SaWa technology, a solar-powered water purification system verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate 99.99 per cent of pathogens from contaminated water.
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The company has already signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with several county governments and is engaging the national government, NGOs, and private investors to accelerate adoption.
One of its most successful initiatives is a peer-to-peer sales model in collaboration with Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), enabling women to sell SaWa Cans to 8,000 households, earning up to Ksh 300 per sale while delivering clean drinking water to their communities.
Caroline Githinji, Managing Director, Africa, emphasized the critical role of partnerships in scaling impact.
“Our work is built on collaboration. We wouldn’t have been able to reach over 390,000 households across Africa without the deep partnerships we’ve built with NGOs, community health networks, and social enterprises,” she said.
Danish Ambassador Stephan Schønemann reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to Africa’s development through its Africa’s Century Strategy.
“This investment aligns perfectly with Denmark’s vision for Africa—where business, science, and development work together to create sustainable solutions. Water is a pillar of life, and 4Life Solutions is proving that innovation can drive real change,” he said.
