RAWDP is committed to setting up 78 local filter factories, in 78 different and well dispersed rural communities, each being headed by each of the trained 78 youths-all working as Clean Water Entrepreneurs. 

To effectively consolidate on the gains already made, scale up the project into these other areas and achieve sustainability, we need a radical departure from the past hence the adoption of the trust fund model.                                                                                                                                                     

However, in scaling up the project and achieving sustainability we have taken cognizance of social, economic and political constraints in Nigeria.

 This has enabled us to develop a business model that is dependent on external funding from 2005-2012.

Commercial and Social Concerns

· Our type of filter and payment options

· Community engagement tools aimed at raising the interest, involvement and participation of the target population

· A suitable range of promotional material for the project

· A tree planting strategy that promotes the project and protects the environment

· A simplified understanding of the innovation and how it is changing the way in which resources are being used to solve problems, and creating sustainable systems etc.

Triple Bottom Line Approach

The business model is in tandem with the triple bottom line which accommodates the poor, the environment and the project itself. While the project requires regular funding to consolidate, it’s positive attributes safeguards the environment while concessions to the poor help to ease poverty recognizing that the poor constitute the bulk of those who have limited access to safe drinking water as well as the political/lobbying process.

It is germane to note however, that many previous water, sanitation and infrastructure projects in Nigeria failed to provide the benefits originally envisaged. From our assessments, a coterie of factors; no doubt has been responsible for this. To overcome those factors we mainstreamed into our project a number of factors, for example:

• Demand
• Affordability
• Sustained use and maintenance
• Management 
• User behaviour (hygiene and use)
• Planning
• Monitoring and evaluation

Innovation

Unlike our peer’s elsewhere, RAWDP retains the innovative streak of promoting sustainable water projects through the use of appropriate technologies, sound social intervention approaches and access to micro-credit mechanisms for the delivery of clean drinking water to local households.

The project is already optimizing relevant tools and approaches in community participation to engage the communities, promote sanitation and household hygiene as follow-up complements in order to achieve sustainability.