Water Sanitation Hygiene Cluster Overview

 

The development of the IASC Global Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster provides an open formal platform for all emergency WASH actors to work together. The global WASH Cluster (GWC)developed a workplan to addresses the key gaps as identified both by those actors as well as being informed by field-level experience.  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 GWC in emergencies, is ensuring that all key WASH sector actors are fully involved at the global level.

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.

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


 

 Cluster Contacts

William L. Fellows
Global WASH Cluster Coordinator
UNICEF New York

3 UN Plaza, NY, NY 10017
Office: +1 212 326 7306
Mobile: +1 917 605 2218
wfellows@unicef.org

Franck Bouvet
Deputy Global WASH Cluster Coordinator  
UNICEF Geneva
5-7 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Office: +41 22 909 5604
Mobile: +41 79 310 5010
Fax: +41 22 909 5902
fbouvet@unicef.org 
 

Additional contacts

WASH Cluster Coordinator Contacts by Country/Region

Regional Emergency WASH Advisors

General information: washcluster@unicef.org 

 WASH Cluster Strategic Framework

The Global WASH Cluster Strategy 2011-2015 has been formulated into five outcome areas, covering outstanding capacity gaps as identified by the Global WASH Cluster (see Resources below for the detailed plan).  The five objectives where increased capacity and/or support is required are:

Outcome 1: Effective coordination and capacity of the Global WASH Cluster 

Outcome 2: Timely operational support to national WASH Clusters as needed 

Outcome 3: Improved emergency preparedness and technical capacity of WASH stakeholders


Outcome 4: 'Accountability and Learning' facilitates effective WASH cluster action     

                                        
Outcome 5: Operational advocacy for WASH as an essential part of humanitarian response and communication in emergency and development fora

 Outcomes Overview:

This strategy has been developed into 13 core initiatives which the Global WASH Cluster is currently working on.

Global WASH Cluster Strategy 2011-2015 PDF

Global WASH Cluster Strategic Framework 2006-2009

 Horn of Africa Information

Global contact information updated 7 September

Websites:

Djibouti:

Somalia:

Somalia WASH Cluster

OCHA Somalia, including maps

Kenya:

Kenya WASH Cluster

OCHA Kenya

Ethiopia:

OCHA Ethiopia

For additional information on Libya and Pakistan, see 'quick links' below under 'country clusters'.

 Quick Links

 What's New

New! GWC Strategy [PDF] 

New! Stockpiling procurement specifications and materials list 

Upcoming events:

For more information, please contact William Fellows, Global WASH Cluster Coordinator (wfellows@unicef.org) or Franck Bouvet, Deputy Global WASH Cluster Coordinator (fbouvet@unicef.org)

 Global WASH Cluster Agencies