Faced with escalating political and economic problems, the rapid retreat by many of the multinational companies encouraged by governments and the World Bank to undertake clean water provision raises fundamental questions on the role of business in addressing the needs of the world’s poor. The corporate community not only has a legitimate and relevant role in securing the range of health, poverty, education and empowerment issues at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (listed below), there is also a powerful moral and business case for doing so.