The Global WASH Cluster (GWC) in 2020 launched the Humanitarian WASH Road Map 2020–2025, articulating the need to enhance the capacity of the WASH sector to deliver a predictable, quality humanitarian response through strengthened collective commitments and strategic partnerships. Partners and partner consortia developed and designed initiatives that would build the capacity and resources needed to deliver quality WASH responses. A specific initiative was developed by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Tufts University on research and innovation that included the need for a more evidence-informed humanitarian WASH response.

Building on an existing collaboration between the GWC and Elrha, Elrha’s Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) programme commissioned a WASH research priority-setting exercise. Using a rigorous research methodology, Lauren D’Mello-Guyett from LSHTM, Daniele Lantagne from Tufts University and Monica Ramos from the GWC led the WASH research prioritisation, in collaboration with a team of WASH academics and practitioners.