Virridy and Asili Partner to Sustain Clean Water Access in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Through Carbon Finance

New Program to Support Water Kiosks Serving 80,000 People in Conflict-Affected Communities

Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Boulder, CO – Virridy, a global leader in water-resiliency carbon credit generation, is partnering with Asili, a Congolese social enterprise supported by Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), to ensure the long-term sustainability of clean water services in the conflict-affected eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Through this collaboration, Asili — whose newest water system is on track to serve 80,000 people in the region with further service expansion projected to reach 350,000 by 2030 — will generate carbon credits to support ongoing operations, maintenance, and expansion of safe drinking water services. In this way, carbon financing will enable Asili to nearly double its services, building on the over 300,000 people reached prior to this collaboration.

Asili, co-designed with mothers in the South Kivu region, operates a financially self-sustaining model that provides high-quality essential services—including clean water, healthcare, and income-generating opportunities—at prices that local communities can afford. This partnership with Virridy will further strengthen Asili’s ability to maintain and expand its water infrastructure by integrating carbon finance into its operations.

“Reliable, high-quality water services are a lifeline for communities in eastern Congo, where instability has made traditional aid approaches unsustainable,” said Asili Director Valéry Namutoi. “By incorporating carbon finance, we can ensure that our water services remain operational, a high quality, and continue to grow, even in the most challenging environments. As we know, even during difficult and complex times, the needs of the community do not disappear, but rather increase and change shape. Our communities need organizations that do not disappear during the crisis, but rather those that go through the crisis with them”

Expanding Water Access with Sustainable Financing

The program will generate carbon credits under Gold Standard’s Emission Reductions from Safe Drinking Water Supply methodology, based on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from households no longer needing to boil water for purification. These credits will create a recurring revenue stream, helping Asili sustain its water services and expand access to even more communities.

Virridy brings expertise in monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of carbon credit projects, ensuring that Asili’s water systems receive the necessary certification to generate and sell high-quality carbon credits in global markets. By leveraging Virridy’s experience in Kenya and Rwanda—where carbon finance has successfully supported rural water systems—this partnership provides a replicable model for sustainable water infrastructure in fragile regions.

“Carbon finance has already proven to be a reliable tool for sustaining safe water programs in Africa,” said Evan Thomas, CEO of Virridy. “By partnering with Asili, we are applying this proven model to help communities in eastern Congo maintain and expand their access to clean drinking water, despite the challenges posed by conflict and instability.”

A Scalable Model for Clean Water and Climate Resilience

Asili’s approach to water service delivery is uniquely designed for long-term sustainability, with communities paying affordable fees for clean water rather than relying on temporary aid programs. Through this partnership, Asili will integrate carbon revenues into its self-sustaining business model, ensuring that safe water remains available even as external funding sources fluctuate.

The initial phase of this program will support Asili’s newly completed water kiosks, which are on track to serve 80,000 people in South Kivu, with plans to expand further, reaching 350,000 people by 2030 through installation of additional Asili kiosks and rehabilitation of existing, non-Asili infrastructure that is currently non-functional.

For more information about this partnership and its impact, visit virridy.com or easterncongo.org.

About Virridy

Virridy specializes in water-focused carbon credit generation, leveraging digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) technologies to quantify water and climate benefits. By combining expertise in carbon finance with water-resiliency solutions, Virridy enables global investments in sustainable water management. Learn more at virridy.com.

About Asili

Asili, a Congolese social enterprise supported by Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), delivers high-quality, affordable essential services—including clean water, healthcare, and economic opportunities—to communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Designed and operated by local Congolese entrepreneurs, Asili creates sustainable, community-built solutions that empower people and foster long-term development. Learn more at easterncongo.org/asili