Inspired by the vision of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Initiative grew from years of experience with the international NGO World Vision and other partners in Ghana to provide rural water supply and sanitation as the entry point for community development.
In 2002, the Hilton Foundation made a bold commitment to expand its long-standing efforts in Ghana, Mali, and Niger and to add a peri-urban as well as rural focus to its work. Several other leading organizations in international water management were invited to engage with national and local governments, citizen groups, and communities in West Africa, and jointly address critical human health needs, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development through better management of water resources.

The follwoing WAWI partners are active in implementing watsan programmes in Ghana:

1. World Vision/Ghana
2. UNICEF
3. WATER AID/New Energy
4. Desert Research Institute (DRI)
5. Winrock International
6. Cornell International Institute for Food and Agriculture Development (CIIFAD)
7. US Agency for International Development/ARD, Inc. (USAID/ARD)
8. International Trachoma Initiative (ITI)
9. The Carter Center (supporting organization)