The New York-based Acumen Fund is a non-profit venture fund that supports social innovators to three critical areas for the poor: health, housing and water. The Fund works in six countries: India, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

The Acumen Fund’s water portfolio was launched in December 2003. As of 31 March 2006 it had committed US$ 1.26 million (EUR 974,000). Organisations which have received water portfolio financing include:

• Heritage Livelihoods Services Provider for a community-based water project for slum dwellers in Hyderabad, India
• WaterHealth International for projects involving water stores and community water systems
• IDE India for a low-cost drip irrigation system adopted by 7,000 small farmers
• Mytry which plans to distribute 240,000 fluoride removal water filter units over three years in India

The Acumen Fund has recently set up a Water & Sanitation Funding Facility with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to finance new water-related initiatives. The Fund has US$ 1.3 million (EUR 1 million) in its pipeline of new investments.

The Acumen Fund stresses that it does not accept and will not respond to unsolicited business plans or requests for financing. Investment decisions are guided by a portfolio advisory committee.

Contact: Yasmina Zaidman, Water Portfolio Manager, Acumen Fund, USA, contact form

Web site: Acumen Fund – Water Portfolio