Who we are 

Village Water is a UK-registered charity working in Zambia and Mozambique to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in rural communities. We work closely with trusted local partners to deliver sustainable, community-led change. 

 Our approach to modern slavery

While the risk of modern slavery in our direct operations is low, we recognise that risks may exist in our supply chains and within the contexts where we work. These risks may include: 

• Informal labour in construction or transport 
• Inadequate labour protections for local partners 
• Weak enforcement of employment rights at community or local partners 

To mitigate these risks, we have taken the following steps:

• We carry out due diligence when establishing new local partners. 
• All UK-based staff and trustees who travel to beneficiaries or schools are subject DBS checks. 
• We provide annual safeguarding training to staff and give partners the resources to ensure strong safeguarding processes.  
• Our partner agreements include clauses on ethical conduct and the expectation to comply with local labour laws and human rights principles. 
• Our Safeguarding Policy and Whistleblowing Procedure provide clear routes for raising concerns. 
• Working with trusted suppliers that partners have vetting.  

Our supply chains

We work with local partners in both Zambia and Mozambique. We prioritise working with suppliers and producers who demonstrate fair employment practices and transparency. We support our partners financially to implement strong procedures and also hold safeguarding hubs with all our partners to share and learn from each other.  

Looking ahead

We will continue to review and update policies to help further strengthen our commitment to ensuring everyone is safe. 

This statement has been approved by the Board of Trustees and will be reviewed annually.