Water as Leverage’s vision revolves around transforming our relationship with water and building thriving communities that prosper through sustainable water practices. This approach is being implemented in countries like India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, where they harness the potential of water resources for a brighter future.
Raising the voice of communities
The core challenge faced by Water as Leverage was visualizing their partnerships in different countries and effectively communicating the positive impact of their water management approaches. That’s where Makmende came in with our human-centered approach. Using research and conducting remote interviews, we dedicated the effort to choose characters who were directly affected by the project. We empowered local communities to share their own stories, giving voice to “water heroes” from Semarang, Chennai, and Khulna—individuals who are not only experts but also residents in these regions. Through these videos, we showcased their incredible achievements in water management, influencing policymakers and even reaching global platforms like COP26 in Glasgow and World Water Week 2021.
An ecosystem of content
Our collaboration with Water as Leverage continued into 2023, where they took a proactive stance in spreading the message to a broader audience during the UN Water Conference and New York Water Week. They recognized the importance of visuals and storytelling in capturing the audience’s attention during these events and also sought our expertise in effectively communicating their work through various social media channels. By capturing and sharing insightful discussions and engaging moments from these events through formats like “rolling conversations” and static posts of powerful quotes, we aimed to extend the impact beyond the conference rooms. Our goal was to foster informed decision-making and inspire transformative action among all.
At Makmende, our human-centered approach is shown through a variety of formats.
Our portrait format videos, highlights the inspiring water heroes who are making a positive impact in their communities. Furthermore, through strategic information repurposing and highlighting Water as Leverage’s active participation in prominent events, we helped them overcome barriers in extending the reach of these transformative stories, engaging a broader audience and fostering informed decision-making. Amplifying these narratives through various channels — together with Water as Leverage — we hope to inspire and invite others to create a sustainable and water-powered future for generations to come.
For more, see the Water as Leverage case here!
Photo: Cynthia van Elk | © Water as Leverage
