Frequently Asked Questions

Improving the lives of urban residents in developing countries with clean, affordable, and sustainable water and sanitation services,

We partner with public utilities in urban areas to optimize their operations and finances. We don’t provide one-size-fits-all solutions. We work with senior managers to identify areas for improvement and connect them with the expert advice and resources they need to achieve their goals. Our partnerships last as long as the utilities need us. And we don’t tolerate backsliding, so solutions last. Click here for more details

We can make the biggest difference in most people’s lives by improving the water and sanitation services in urban areas. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities today, which is expected to rise to 70% by 2050. There’s a direct connection between improving how local utilities operate and improving the health and economic opportunities of billions of people. Click here for more details.

A common misconception is that a lack of money is the primary impediment to fixing infrastructure. It’s not. The problem is that most utilities don’t have the expertise to manage their finances. We work with senior managers to build those capabilities and present their organizations as attractive candidates for funding. We also actively seek funding for them from commercial, development finance, and philanthropic sources.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) calls for safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all by 2030.  Our mission is to partner with urban utilities to help achieve this, which, in turn, will promote public health, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and uphold human dignity.

To ensure a high likelihood of success, we use a rigorous process that includes assessing the utility’s needs, the enabling environment, and the potential for impact.

Yes, we maintain a short list of utilities and countries where we are considering expanding, including those in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

Yes, we offer expertise in sanitation as an add-on to our work in water.

Contact our ROCKBlue Consultancy at info@ROCKBlue.org. Click here for more details.

Contact us at info@rockblue.org, and we will put you in touch with our Utility Partnership Division.

Contact us at info@rockblue.org. Click here for more details.

Contact us at info@rockblue.org, and we will put you in touch with either our Utility Partnership Division, ROCKBlue Consultancy, or Development Division, depending on your exact needs.

There is no end date. Though our level of effort tends to decrease over time, our utility partners can call on us as long as they need us

We began working with our first utility partner in Lesotho in 2016, followed by utilities in Zambia, Malawi (see Malawi Success Story), Zimbabwe, and Ghana. We remain partnered with every utility we started with to sustain their improvements.

All of our services, except those contracted through ROCKBlue Consultancy, are free. We charge below-market rates for our consulting services to help support our mission-driven work.

Resources available through the ROCKBlue Consultancy are listed here.

The resources available to utility partners include strategic planning, leadership, monitoring, reporting, operations, risk assessment and mitigation, human resources, finance & accounting, asset management, non-revenue water reduction, and metering, community relations.

We extend 24 hours of free consulting to utilities as part of our partnerships. If they need additional hours, they can purchase them from the ROCKBlue Consultancy at below-market rates. The Consultancy also provides planning, design, and supervision typically found in a small consulting firm. Click here for more details.

Utility Partnership Division (UPD):

Each month, our Utility Partnership Division (UPD) provides 24 hours of free consulting to each of our water utility partners with the goal of strengthening their leadership, operations, and finances. Utilities benefit from ROCKBlue’s experts in capacity building, mentoring, peer learning, and expert matching. These services are funded by ROCKBlue’s donors, and our utility partners have access to them for life.

ROCKBlue Consultancy (RBC):

ROCKBlue’s Consultancy (RBC) provides consulting to utilities, governments, corporations, and development partners at rates that are below market value. Often the result of a competitive bidding process, these contracts may include technical studies, project design, and implementation support. Consultancy projects are independent of UPD relationships, and confidential information is never shared between clients.

The combination of ROCKBlue's Utility Partnership Division (UPD) and ROCKBlue Consultancy (RBC) allows us to maximize our impact. The philanthropic work UPD does supports our non-profit mission to improve the lives of urban residents in low- and middle-income countries with clean, affordable, and sustainable water and sanitation services.

Through the Consultancy, we deliver paid technical services when requested by clients, which is consistent with our goal of being an independent, trusted leader in water and sanitation and equipping WASH professionals globally to succeed. The revenue generated by the Consultancy supports our mission-driven work while expanding the reach of our free services.

No, the Utility Partnership Division (UPD) and ROCKBlue Consultancy (RBC) are strictly separated. Utilities that receive free support from UPD do so without any obligation or expectation to use our consultancy services.

Yes, our largely virtual model makes it easy, efficient, and cost-effective to work with us from anywhere in the world.

As of 2025, we have helped our utility partners serve more than 20 million people. This is an increase of 742% since we began working with them, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts, and cholera outbreak.

We track 96 performance indices, all of which contribute to the increased availability of reliable water and sanitation services. Learn more about our impact here.

Yes. Find our volunteer opportunities here.

It will support us in increasing access to safe, reliable water and sanitation. We are committed to maintaining a very low overhead and very high impact to ensure that the money contributed goes as far as possible. Click here to donate

Platinum. Click here for more details.

Our work is funded by grants and donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals. In addition, we generate income from sponsorships and consulting services.

Contact us at infor@rockblue.org for detailed financial information.