Collaborations

The WASH Severity Classification (WSC) is a set of tools and protocols designed to enable analysts from humanitarian and development organizations to measure the severity of WASH conditions across various crises and time- through an evidence-based approach that uses recognized standards.

As a system, the WSC aims to bring all WASH actors together and pool all relevant data sources in the process, to build a shared understanding among all stakeholders on how to analyze the available data and trigger better response interventions. Taking this consensus-based approach ensures greater transparency and credibility of results among the WASH community.

In 2022 the WASH, Nutrition, Food Security and Health clusters established a global-level initiative to explore improved operational response and coordination modalities that will enhance the outcomes for people affected by droughts, conflicts, disease outbreaks, or other specific crises. In these cases, a smaller group of clusters, working closely, would help to save more lives, making use of existing synergies between the four clusters to help shape actions on the ground.

The ICSC initiative does not replace traditional multi-sectoral response modalities, as articulated in country-level Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs), nor does it compete with the essential function of Inter-Cluster Coordination Groups, often convened by UNOCHA. Rather, the value will be added through a new focus on integrated responses in specific circumstances, and on the enhanced operational coordination of the delivery of a minimum package of aid. A set of ICSC tools is under development to facilitate the process for cluster coordinators at the country level.

The Global WASH Cluster’s Accountability and Quality Assurance Initiative is developing tools and approaches to support national clusters set up Accountability and Quality Assurance Systems and to link up with other sectors and cross-cutting issues (gender, accountability, inclusion…).

The activities of this project are designed to: 1) help translate existing humanitarian WASH research to practitioners; and, 2) to reduce barriers to conducting new WASH monitoring, evaluation, and research in humanitarian emergencies. This project has four main components: Updating the current Resource Center ; Staffing a Research Helpdesk ; Running a regular Humanitarian WASH Research Webinar series, and Providing technical support to localize humanitarian response monitoring, evaluation, and research, including to Clusters, academic institutions, and local research institutions, including in-country visits to provide support.  If your organization is interested in conducting research in humanitarian WASH, you would like to recommend a candidate for technical assistance, or you would like your research highlighted in a newsletter, please reach out to us!

We are also including short 2-page summary of project activities attached to this email as well.  For more information, to be involved with, or to receive assistance, contact globalwashcluster@unicef.org, or Jitka Hiscox or Daniele Lantagne at jitka.hiscox@tufts.edu and daniele.lantagne@tufts.edu in English, French, or Spanish. 

Through strengthened collective commitments and strategic engagement by all stakeholders active in the WASH sector, the implementation of the Road Map 2020–2025 will roll out innovative approaches to save lives, reach the better public and environmental health outcomes and build synergies between acute and complex emergencies, humanitarian crises and long-term development. By 2025, the WASH sector will have the capacity and resources to deliver in emergencies at scale, anywhere, and at any time. This will be achieved through three strategic axes and three prerequisite pillars that integrate and mainstream the core principles of humanitarian assistance. Please visit the WASH Road Map website to know more.

As the world faces an unprecedented level of complex and protracted humanitarian crises, the humanitarian community cannot currently meet WASH needs wherever and whenever they arise. Too often, WASH responses are inadequate and meeting humanitarian or sectoral standards can be a challenge because of capacity limitations, lack of preparedness and insufficient funding.

As a result, emergency WASH services and assistance do not meet the critical needs of the people who depend on them. This second volume of the Water Under Fire report series is dedicated to the WASH sector’s capacity to deliver a predictable, quality humanitarian WASH response, and provides a change agenda and road map towards strengthening this capacity.

Humanitarian actors often play a significant role in supporting national public health capacity to assess, plan, coordinate and implement preparedness and response measures. There is wide support in strengthening the intersectoral response to disease outbreaks to more efficiently and effectively respond to, contain, and potentially prevent disease outbreaks in humanitarian crises. The Global Health Cluster and the Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster have the shared objective of ensuring coherence in achieving common objectives, avoiding duplication of efforts, and ensuring areas of greatest need are prioritised.

The aim of the Joint Operational Framework is to bring together the Health and WASH Clusters, Humanitarian Country Teams, OCHA, the WHO, and UNICEF country offices and others in facilitating and supporting the government to guide a timely and effective response to cholera through effective leadership and multi-sectoral coordination.

Knowledge-sharing and identification of knowledge gaps were strengthened through the continued collaboration with the Covid-19 Hygiene Hub. The CAST contributed to the development of the technical guidance on the impacts of Covid-19 on the programme monitoring in collaboration with the Hygiene Hub/LSTHM. The CAST successfully co-lead on the development of the learning brief on coordinating and managing information during the COVID-19 pandemic. WASH Humanitarian Responses was jointly developed in collaboration with the Covid-19 Hygiene Hub, the Global Handwashing Partnership, The RCCE Collective, and the Hand Hygiene for All Initiative.

With humanitarian emergencies occurring at increasing rates and affecting a growing number of people, evidence-based strategies and new solutions – including in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) – are vital to ensure people have their essential needs met, can live in dignity, and are protected from WASH-related diseases.

‘Gaps in WASH in Humanitarian Response: 2021 Update’ reveals the most pressing WASH challenges facing communities affected by crises worldwide.

This gap analysis is informed by the most comprehensive global WASH data collection of its kind, with more than 1,700 people affected by crisis sharing their views and experiences along with almost 700 in-country WASH practitioners. In addition to this, a survey was conducted with 246 global WASH practitioners and a review of 614 academic articles and grey literature publications was completed.