Water Sanitation Hygiene Cluster Overview

 

The development of the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster provides an open formal platform for all emergency WASH actors and working together, the development of a workplan which addresses the key gaps as identified both by those key actors, but also verification from the field.  The cluster approach presents many opportunities to bring the sector as a whole closer together in ensuring a predictable, effective, timely and coherent WASH humanitarian response.

Formal recognition of UNICEF’s role as global cluster lead has also allowed the organisation to ensure dedicated resources to take up the role and to examine internal and external systems to ensure standards, systems and capacity for rapid response. Critical in ensuring participation in the WASH cluster in emergencies, is ensuring that all key WASH sector actors are fully involved at the global level.

 

For direct access to various products and projects of the WASH Cluster, click on the banner below:


 

Whilst informal networking certainly has made a contribution to the sector’s response, prior to the humanitarian reform, there had never been a formal analysis of the key issues which were bottlenecks in improving the sector’s response in an emergency.

 WASH Cluster Workplan

The Global WASH cluster workplan 2006/8 has been formulated into five strategic areas, covering outstanding capacity gaps identified by the WASH cluster working group.  The five strategic areas where increased capacity is required are:

1 WASH Sector Co-ordination and Advocacy
2 Information Management and Standards Policy
3 WASH Sector Capacity for Humanitarian Response
4 WASH Sector Preparedness
5 WASH Sector Best Practice and Learning
 

 

The Global WASH Cluster workplan 2006/8 has a particular emphasis on cross-cutting issues in the form of mainstreaming and the gathering and development of best practice guidance.  The building of national and regional capacity and participation in emergencies has also been highlighted throughout several of the objectives within the Global WASH Cluster Appeal and Strategic Framework.   

Funds for the WASH cluster are chanelled through UNICEF on behalf of all of the cluster organisations.  The WASH cluster fully supports the distribution of funds for emergency response at the field level however, directly to agencies.

 Global WASH Cluster Agencies

 Latest Meetings

Global WASH Cluster Meeting: Geneva, 5-6 February 2008 - Meeting Minutes

Global WASH Cluster Meeting: Oxford, 25-26 June 2008 - Meeting Minutes

 Introduction to the Cluster Approach

This is an interview of Mark Cutts of OCHA's Humanitarian Coordination Support Section  where he outlines the main themes and answers common questions on humanitarian reform and the cluster approach. The video is 40 minutes and the shorter version is 23 minutes and can be downloaded or watched directly by clicking on the links. The list of questions which Mark answers can be found here.

Streaming - If you want to watch it now:
Full version

Download Video - If you want to save it and watch later:
Full version
Short version

 WASH / H1N1

 

 

 Global WASH Cluster Projects

The WASH Cluster's Workplan for 2006/08 developed into five strategic areas consists of fifteen projects currently underway. Please go to the projects home pages for more information and outputs from the individual projects.

PROJECT HOME PAGES

 Inter-Cluster Activities

Components of some of the WASH Cluster projects relate to cross-cluster activities and the mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues into emergency WASH sector. For more information please go to :

Tri-Cluster Initiative

Inter-Cluster Matrices of Roles and Accountabilities

Cross-Cutting Issues

 Upcoming Events

 Key Documents