The world community has pledged to reduce by half the proportion of the global population without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015 (UN Millennium Development Goal 7) and Solvatten projects are contributing to this. UN Habitat is starting a solar water pasteurization project to provide safe drinking water and warm water to households in low-income peri-urban areas in Bamako, Mali.
UN-HABITAT has received funding for the project from the Demo Environment Programme being administered by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket). The selected locations are densely populated and lack modern infrastructure for water and sanitation. Water resources are under pressure because of rapid population growth and deforestation is accelerating because of increasing demand for wood-based fuels.  The project is carried out in partnership with the international organisation CREPA and the Solvatten units will directly benefit around 1500 people.

In Kibera slum, Nairobi, subsidised sales of Solvatten have begun. Under the guidance of the Institute of Environment and Water, 10 local CBOs (Community Based Organisations) are now selling units to their friends, family and neighbours. The units will be used to combat water-borne diseases and to help the community adapt to the effects of climate change. The social and environmental impact will be measured over the next year. Funding for the project is being provided by the Nordic Climate Facility.

Families in Bungoma, western Kenya, confirm that Solvatten is a sustainable solution since they have now been using their units for two years and the demand for wood-based fuels has decreased.