With the goal of providing clean, affordable water to the world’s most impoverished communities, an innovative partnership has emerged between Red Telescope Global (RTG) and Project41, driven by the shared vision and complementary expertise of their leaders, Jamie Nelson and Andy Pierce. Their first meetings in late 2019, facilitated by Vatheuer Family Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to global poverty alleviation, sparked a collaboration that is bringing novel water solutions to the forefront of international development.

Project41, under Andy’s leadership, had already taken significant strides in addressing the critical need for clean water with an inventive approach. Leveraging Andy’s background in water filtration and his firsthand experiences in Haiti, Project41 developed low-cost, rugged, and maintainable water filters. These filters were not only designed to withstand the rigors of challenging environments but also tailored to meet the needs of communities grappling with insecure settings, prevalent waterborne diseases, and limited access to basic services. However, despite the technical success, Project41 encountered hurdles in the realms of strategic scaling and navigating the complex landscape of international aid and development.

Enter Jamie Nelson and Red Telescope Global. With extensive experience in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, and a solid background in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) policy and advocacy, Jamie brought to the table the missing piece of the puzzle. Recognizing the potential of Andy’s engineering achievements combined with his own expertise in international development, Jamie saw an opportunity for a synergistic partnership to overcome the challenges faced by Project41.

The collaboration between RTG and Project41 was founded on a mutual understanding of the intricate dynamics of providing sustainable aid to volatile regions. The core challenges that Project41 faced—strategic scaling, forging partnerships, fundraising, and identifying viable markets—were areas where RTG’s background excelled. Together, they set out to tackle these issues head-on, focusing on markets that not only needed clean water but also possessed the political stability, organizational support, and local engagement necessary for sustainable project success.

This alliance is more than a business partnership; it’s a fusion of skills and passion aimed at making a tangible difference in the lives of those who suffer from lack of access to clean water. RTG and Project41’s journey illuminates the power of collaboration in overcoming barriers to effective development and the importance of leveraging diverse expertise to address global challenges successfully.

As this partnership flourishes, it provides an inspiring model for future efforts in the international development sector. By combining Andy’s innovative engineering solutions with Jamie’s strategic acumen and deep understanding of the WASH sector, RTG and Project41 are not just providing water filters; they’re building pathways to empowerment, health, and sustainability for communities around the globe, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Zambia.

Please let us know if you would like to discuss this further with RTG’s CEO Jamie Nelson. We are happy to make him available to talk with you about any of the details of how RTG has helped, and is continuing to help, empower people around the world.