WaterAid dismissed four members of staff last year after investigating reports of safeguarding misconduct, according to recently filed documents.
The charity’s recently filed accounts for the year to March 2025 show it received 61 reports overall, a 30% increase on the previous year, which it said in its accounts “reflects our conscious and growing engagement with partners and communities”.
Seven reports led to a safeguarding investigation while the charity escalated one case to the Charity Commission, “which agreed with our investigation, outcome and recommendations”.
But WaterAid added that there is “likely to be a degree of underreporting” because of the scale of its operations as a large charity.
USAID funding cuts
WaterAid recorded an income of £92.1m for 2024-25, a 1% increase from the year before, driven mainly by legacy gifts.
But the charity saw a decrease in income from corporate partnerships, while restricted grant funding reduced by 3%.
WaterAid reported that the stop-work order relating to USAID funding affected seven of the countries where it works.
“This represented a risk to income for 2024-25 of £0.5m which is reflected in the accounts and discontinuation of funding for these projects by USAID for future years,” the report reads.
Meanwhile, WaterAid’s total expenditure for 2024-25 was £97m, an increase of 3% from last year.
The charity said this increase is down to planned investments in policy and campaign activities and investing in strategic partnerships and other members to secure future funding.
“It is also due to some funding contracts ending and not being renewed, most notably due to the USAID stop work order,” the accounts say.
The charity also made termination payments totalling £187,000, the majority of which related to USAID end of funding which led to severance payments for staff in country programmes impacted by the cancellation of projects funded by it.
On the USAID cuts, WaterAid added in a statement: “Our aim is to minimise any impact on the communities we work with.
“WaterAid will continue with our tireless work to provide clean water to communities across the world.”
Water firm boss appointed as trustee
Meanwhile, the charity has defended its trustee appointment of Ruth Jefferson, chief executive of Wessex Water, which has previously been found responsible for pollution incidents.
WaterAid said in a statement: “Our trustees play a vital role in ensuring WaterAid works as a highly efficient and effective organisation to achieve our mission.
“They come from a variety of backgrounds and each with their own skills and expertise. Expertise that includes technical understanding of water infrastructure and systems change.
“Our trustees give up their time and energy for free, to help us make a bigger impact and bring clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.”
