<!–[if !mso]> <! st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } –> Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co.’s charitable organization announced $9.6 million in awards to 43 environmental, educational and health promotion projects around the world Sept. 21.

The largest proportion of the Coca-Cola Foundation’s awards are going to water stewardship projects.  The organization is contributing $3.6 million to these initiatives.

Saunders Jones, chairperson of the Coca-Cola Foundation, said in a news release that the recipients represent “a wide-range of sustainable community programs across the globe to help develop economies, improve lives and create opportunity.”

The largest single donation to an international organization is $2 million to the United Nations Foundation for community-based water management and adaptation to climate change.

Other projects outside the U.S. include $1 million to the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and Africare to provide services to people with HIV and AIDS. Another $441,000 is going to the World Wildlife Fund Inc.’s Spanish organization to restore the Alto Guadiana watershed in Spain.

Still more awards are going to initiatives in Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Ecuador, Estonia, Honduras, Israel, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Local organizations receiving donations include $50,000 each for the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Inc.’s initiatives to encourage physical activity, the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation’s high school leadership academy and career development promotions by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Inc.

For the full list of recipients see Coca-Cola’s website here.