Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the fifth edition of the GWC 2022 Monthly Newsletter! We are pleased to share in this issue the GWC capacity development updates, the new GWC Women in WASH Coordination Initiative, key updates from technical working groups, operational updates from the field, and fresh news from partner organizations including OCHA, the German WASH Network, UNICEF, WHO, Sanihub, EMPHNET, SIWI, UNHCR, UNFPA, IASC and others.
We were very happy to host the 26th GWC Annual Meeting on 16th and 17th May 2022, as a successful hybrid event in Budapest and online with our members and National Coordination Platforms (NCPs). The meeting report, the new strategic plan monitoring framework, and the materials from the Emergency Environmental Health Forum (EEHF) will be shared during the month of June. Many thanks to all who provided inputs during these sessions.
In addition, key documents from national coordination platforms are also featured in the operational update section. Highlights from countries this month showcase the Afghanistan WASH Cluster Integrated AWD Preparedness and Response Plan for 2022 and the WASH Latin America and the Caribbean LAC | Monthly Update.
We remind all that we value showcasing the incredible work national coordination platforms and partners are doing around the world, so please send us your photos, stories, and other content to highlight the work of your team or draw attention to issues that matter to you. Read our submission guidelines here. All items can be sent directly for inclusion in the next newsletter by Friday, 24th June 2022 to globalwashcluster@unicef.org.
Thank you for your attention and we hope you will find this insightful!
Best regards,
CAST (The Cluster Advocacy and Support Team)
Photo credits: © UNICEF/UN0639228/Sewunet
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GWC Collaborations and News
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WASH Operational Coordination and Leadership Course Held in Dakar
The new WASH operational coordination and leadership course was held in Dakar, from 24th to 26th May 2022. 23 participants attended the course, out of which 6 were INGO partners, 9 local government partners, and 8 UNICEF national staff.
The GWC also enabled the participation of a UNICEF female staff member from the Niger office who was still breastfeeding her baby, making arrangements for her baby and a babysitter to accompany her to the training site for the 5 days. She played a decisive role in the dynamics of the training and we thank her again for her proactive participation... and for daring to ask for the support she needed to be with us. In addition to equity between women and men, it is also the fundamental rights of children that have been respected: the non-separation of infant and mother and the promotion of breastfeeding. These fundamentals are very dear to the GWC and we do our best to respect them at our events.
We would like to thank Orsolya Bader for her limitless commitment to supporting the GWC training and Martina Rama for brilliantly co-facilitating the training and to all participants for their outstanding participation.
More information on the WASH Operational Coordination and Leadership training (WOCL)
Three-day residential or online training providing operational tools and behavioural skills to lead on WASH coordination. Residential training overview available on AGORA in French and English. The next training will be conducted in Nairobi from 5th to 8th July 2022. For any inquiries, please write to globalwashcluster@unicef.org.
Find all GWC capacity development resources here.
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Women in WASH Coordination Initiative
 The GWC started a new initiative on Women in WASH Coordination. Currently, only 19% of national WASH cluster coordinators and 22% of Information Management Officers are women globally. There is little information related to the level of Women’s Rights Organizations’ (WROs) participation in National Coordination Platforms (NCPs).
In order to address this gender gap, GWC is conducting research that includes two components;
1) Barriers and enablers for women to be WASH cluster coordinators and co-coordinators, Information Management Officers, and take other leadership roles in NHWCPs.
2) Barriers and enablers for WROs to meaningfully participate in/partner with National Coordination Platforms. Based on the research, we will develop a practical road map to address the gender gap.
As part of this work, we will conduct interviews and send an online survey to all of you in June and July. We will also have bilateral and group consultations to develop a practical road map in August and September. We will contact some of you directly but please register your interests in case you are willing to participate in this research as key informants and/or in the consultation process for the road map through this link by 9th June 2022.
If you have any questions about this initiative or want to share any relevant information, please feel free to contact Julie Bara at jbara@unicef.org or Masumi Yamashina at myamashina@unicef.org
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GWC Technical Working Groups (TWIGs) Updates
Hygiene promotion TWIG Speaker Series
Many thanks to those who were able to join us for our first Hygiene Promotion Technical Working Group Speaker Series events on the topics of Incontinence in humanitarian settings, for the link between Hygiene and Mental Health and for the Hygiene Promotion and Cholera Control– please do share the links widely with your colleagues.
Our next Speaker Series session will be on the topic of How Effective are Hygiene Kits in Meeting WASH Programme Aims? and will be held on 16th June 13:00 CEST. To register for the session, please sign up using this ZOOM link.
All HPTWG materials can be found here.
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The Global WASH Cluster provides Operational Support for coordination platforms in humanitarian emergencies through deployments and remote support. The support is provided by the Field Support Team (FST), a consortium of WASH agencies providing 6 staff (3 x coordinators, 2 x information managers, and 1 x assessment specialist) with the support and oversight of the GWC-Cluster Advocacy and Support Team (CAST). To access these services national coordinators or information managers can send an email or inquiry to gwchelp@unicef.org (GWC Help Desk). |
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HNO 2022 – 2023 | GWC Needs Assessment Guide to Key Resources
 The Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) season is approaching and with that, it’s time to start preparing data sources for the PIN and Severity analysis. As you know, the Global WASH Cluster Field Support Team, through remote support as well as through its helpdesk, is fully available to answer your questions, help you in designing your indicators, review your severity scale, and more for your upcoming HNO/HRP-related activities.
Key GWC Resources & Helpdesk
This year, we have put together a short overview of what is available in this summary, including a new Assessment Strategy guidance for 2022. We also have a dedicated HNO helpdesk that you can reach here at gwchelp@unicef.org
Other OCHA Resources
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Stories from the Field - WASH Cluster Information Management Support to Ukraine
 The war against Ukraine has entered its third month and continues to exacerbate a massive humanitarian crisis and prompt further displacement with 8 million internally displaced people in Ukraine and 15.7 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Since 24 February, UNICEF has ensured access to safe water for nearly 1.3 million people in affected areas and at least 112,086 people have been reached with WASH supplies. In light of this challenge, virtual deployment support at the national level was requested to the FST and provided by Jason Searle, Information Manager with iMMAP, from 19 th April 2022 onwards, for an initial duration of 1 month (extension ongoing).
The scale up in conflict increased needs and an adaption of the corresponding humanitarian response. During the virtual deployment period, Jason began by assisting with the handover of Cluster IM tasks from the departing long term Ukraine WASH Cluster IMO, Volodymyr Kalinin, to the incoming iMMAP Standby Partner recruit Aamer Bassmaji. The collaboration included providing support to a number of cluster capacity development initiatives to stakeholders as well as improvement of Ukraine WASH Cluster IM systems and tools. The IM team worked collectively with the coordination team and partners to capture, analyze, represent and disseminate valuable information with the aim to ensure the most efficient and effective response to the affected population.
Read more on the Ukraine WASH Cluster here.
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Field Support Team (FST) Deployments - Assessment Specialist Support to Oromia Province, Ethiopia - Direct Mission
 Ethiopia is battling a crisis on multiple fronts, with conflict in the north and the worst drought in nearly forty years in the south and south eastern regions. The crisis has caused large-scale displacements and rising inflation. Alongside the Somali region and SSNP, Oromia is one of the most drought-affected regions.
In southern Oromia only, an estimated 2.1 million people are expected to be affected by the drought in 8 of its 21 zones *, which represent approximately 14% of the total population.
Populations in drought-affected areas are still recovering from the impact of the most recent severe drought in 2017, indicating higher vulnerabilities to shock. Not only has the ongoing condition had a significant impact on livestock and crop production, but as a result of failed rains, water resources have not been adequately replenished, leading to nearly dry water points in the affected areas. These conditions have likely made it extremely difficult for populations in affected areas to access sufficient and sustainable water. Given the continued dire situation, the Level 3 UNICEF Corporate Emergency Activation Procedure (CEAP) extension was decided and will cover six regions (Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Somali, Oromia, SNNP) affected by the conflict and drought for six months, until 12 November 2022.
FST support was requested to provide operational support on the assessment of the WASH response related to drought. The FST deployed Rebecka Rydberg, Assessment Specialist with IMPACT, as sub-national support to Oromia region, Ethiopia. Her mission started on 20th april and she is expected to be deployed until 20th June 2022.
The main focus of this mission is to support the Oromia sub-national WASH Cluster to collate and maintain information on the drought situation to understand needs and severity, to harmonize and standardize assessment indicators throughout the response, and to strengthen the capacity of the cluster and partners in regards to assessment methodologies and data collection.
Read more on the Ethiopia WASH Cluster Website here. 
* Bale, East Bale, Borena, East Hararge, West Hararge, Guji, West Guji, and West Arsi
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 GWC Planned Webinars
In the second and third quarter of 2022, the GWC has planned several operational support events for National Coordination Platforms (NCPs) such as AAP, GBV Risk Mitigation and Disability Inclusion in HNO and HRPs, Visualization and Gap Analysis, the HNO 2023 WASH Sectoral Guidance and HRP planning and costings webinars.
GWC Recent Webinars
We are sharing with you the links to the recorded presentations from previous webinars held by the GWC CAST and FST to National Coordination Platforms (NCPs).
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Cross-cutting themes in HNO/HRPs- recordings and PPT here
Assessment Strategy 2022 – recording and PPT here
Response Monitoring Frameworks and 4Ws - materials and recording here
IM Diagnostic and Framework 2022 - materials here
Coordination Performance and Prioritization 2022 - materials here |
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All GWC 2021 webinars are available here. |
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GWC Coordination Toolkit
We also remind all that the GWC Coordination Toolkit is our live resource for guidance in all matters for coordination, information management and assessments.
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Resources and Tools from National Coordination Platforms - May 2022:
We encourage all National Coordination Platforms to send their examples, guidance, tools on coordination, information management, assessment and technical guidelines/documents directly to: globalwashcluster@gmail.com.
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UNICEF WASH - Key Updates and New Resources
UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC 2022)
 UNICEF launches this Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal, 2022, requiring a total of USD 2.2 billion to provide life-saving support to meet the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) needs of the world’s most vulnerable children and families and the availability of this funding need will ensure continuity of a timely, predictable and efficient humanitarian response, in line with international norms and standards.
Read more here.
UNICEF finalizes its second Cluster Lead Agency role evaluation
 The second Cluster Lead Agency Role Evaluation (CLARE II) concludes that UNICEF has generally delivered on the coordination responsibilities of its cluster lead agency (CLA) role and shows significant progress since the first global evaluation in 2013, especially in fulfilling its country-level cluster coordination responsibilities and in terms of staffing coordination and information management positions. However, it noted that there are still noticeable gaps in coordination positions at the country level (even up to 6 months) with frequent instances of “double-hatted” staff. Finally, the evaluation found that the humanitarian system relies on heavy processes that hinder strategic thinking, and on outdated guidance that needs to incorporate new realities and ways of doing business.
See the short video below⬇️
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GWC & GWN Training Event Announcement -Market-Based Programming for WASH in Emergencies
The German WASH Network will deliver a 5 days residential Training on Market-Based Programming for WASH in Emergencies from the 15th August to the 19th August 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria. The training package was developed by the Global WASH Cluster Technical Working Group "Cash & Markets" (TWIG), piloted in Nairobi in 2018, and repeatedly delivered on- and offline since then. This specific training event is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and will be conducted by the TWIG members German Toilet Organization and Malteser International.
The purpose of the training is to build the capacity of humanitarian WASH practitioners and national or sub-national sector coordinators in the Africa regions to use market-based approaches, including cash & voucher assistance, to achieve WASH outcomes. The training will be conducted by a team of global level trainers with both extensive Cash (CaLP certified) and WASH backgrounds. This training is held in English and is open to humanitarian WASH and Cash practitioners from all African regions. We strive for diversity, an equal representation of male and female participants and a balanced mix of actor groups. We encourage local partner organizations (government, local NGOs etc.) to apply and participate in this training. Finally, we try to make the training as accessible as possible to people with special needs. Please indicate special requirements in the online application form.
As such, we request that you kindly disseminate to your respective country offices and networks.Interested candidates should fill online application form before the 12 June 2022. You can find further information on the training here. Please apply via the online application form.
Please note:
- Only selected participants will be contacted.
- For NGO participants, please note that your application must be validated by your technical advisor or supervisor at management level.
For inquiries, please send us an email to registration@washnet.de |
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WHO launches first ever global report on Infection Prevention and Control
 Geneva, 6 May 2022 - The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent large disease outbreaks have highlighted the extent to which health care settings can contribute to the spread of infections, harming patients, health workers and visitors, if insufficient attention is paid to infection prevention and control (IPC).
But a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that where good hand hygiene and other cost-effective practices are followed, 70% of those infections can be prevented.
Read more here.
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UN 2023 Water Conference - Special Accreditation for Non-Governmental Organizations and Other Stakeholders
Apply by 15 July 2022!
The United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ 2018-2028 (the UN 2023 Water Conference) will be held from 22 to 24 March 2023, at the UN headquarters in New York.
The Conference will be preceded by a one-day preparatory meeting, held by November 2022 also in New York, to finalize the themes of the interactive dialogues and other outstanding organizational matters of the Conference, with participation of all relevant stakeholders.
The Conference will be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Tajikistan. For more background information on the Conference, please go here.
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The Global WASH Cluster (GWC) and partners recognized the need for providing better access to quality ensured and well-structured practical information for tackling sanitation and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in acute and transitional humanitarian emergency contexts. As part of the ongoing work of the GWC Technical Working Group on FSM a project evolved with the aim to provide well-structured and tailored technical support, tools and guidelines to WASH practitioners.
This so-called “Humanitarian Sanitation Hub” project, is financially supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is currently being implemented by a consortium consisting of BORDA, CAWST, Eawag, IHE Delft, Netherlands Red Cross and Solidarités International, which is led by German Toilet Organization.
During a 3-year implementation time, the Humanitarian Sanitation Hub will provide a co-created, comprehensive, structured, curated and moderated open-source knowledge and exchange platform which is used and continuously informed by the global humanitarian WASH community. It will bring together existing resources, tools and platforms in one single meta platform that serves as a first go-to-point, reference guide, and as a constant companion for all those involved in planning and implementing sanitation and FSM interventions.
In addition to the online platform, the Hub includes an actively operated helpdesk to directly support and facilitate rapid and high-quality planning, technology selection and implementation of humanitarian sanitation interventions in the field and to facilitate the build-up of an active community of practice.
For more information see the short project summary leaflet attached. If you would like to get actively involved and get up-to-date information on the Hub and its further development you can sign up for a corresponding mailing list here or read more here.
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In line with EMPHNET’s commitment to developing new solutions and building on existing ones that enable and support public health specialists and field epidemiologists in the region and beyond, we are happy to support the launch of EMPHNET Electronic Library (EEL).
EEL serves as a resource for public health professionals in the EMR and beyond, as it provides its users with access to resources and tools that will advance their research and practices. These resources include; e-books, e-journals, databases, manuals, training material, useful links, and more. Furthermore, the library also includes a section dedicated to EMPHNET’s documents; these are technical documents produced by the organization and its partners.
To know more about EEL, please watch this short introductory video available in Arabic, English, and French.
To access EEL’s resources, we invite you to register here or visit library.emphnet.net
If you have any questions or inquiries about EEL, please do not hesitate to contact them at eel@emphnet.net
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Dangerous Delay 2: The Cost of Inaction
 Around the world, 181 million are forecast to be in crisis levels of hunger in 2022.1 Oxfam and Save the Children estimate that across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, on average one person is likely dying every 48 seconds2 from acute hunger linked to conflict, COVID-19, the climate crisis and inflationary and market pressures accelerated by the current conflict in Ukraine. Hard-won progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and millions of children’s lives are now at risk if urgent action is not taken to avert famine. But preventing people from dying of starvation without political action to tackle underlying drivers – including inequality, conflict and the climate crisis, will not stop the cyclical – and predictable – crises experienced by millions of people around the world. Starvation is a political failure. Read more below. |
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Emerging Solutions in Menstrual Waste Management Webinar
Menstrual health has gained increasing attention over the last decade with priorities focused on ensuring access to menstrual products and education for menstruators in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and humanitarian contexts. According to the LEAP report released by RHSC, there are 1.67 billion menstruators in LMICs and the uptake of disposable menstrual products among them is rapidly growing. In LMIC and humanitarian contexts, the menstrual waste resulting from these products makes its way into the environment. This is due to improper disposal practices, limited options for disposal at source, and poor or absent waste management options. Raw materials and menstrual blood in disposed products pose risks to those who dispose and handle it. There is limited research globally on understanding the impact of menstrual waste and identifying appropriate management solutions in vulnerable settings. To address this gap, the RHSC Menstrual Health Supplies Workstream and the Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies Working Group are organizing a three-part webinar series that will explore the existing evidence and need for future investments.
Please join us for the third webinar in the series, Emerging Solutions in Menstrual Waste Management on the 8th June at 4PM CET. We will hear from innovators making strides in sustainable menstrual health products and innovations.. |
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Presenters
- Olivia Ahn, Co-Founder, PLANERA
- Mahesh Nakarmi, Founder Chairman and Executive Director, HECAF
- Jaydeep Mandal, Founder, Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd
- Ajinkya Dhariya, Founder and CEO, PadCare Labs
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Panelists
- Wendy Anderson, Partner and Co-Founder, The Case For Her
- Lindsey Higgins, PhD, Head of Research and Insights, Pale blue dot
- Elizabeth Tilley, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT), ETH Zurich
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Moderator:
Adrian Dongus, Intersectoral MHM in Emergencies Consultant for the UNHCR-UNFPA Partnership at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) |
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| REGISTER NOW |
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World Water Week 2022 - Registrations are Open
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World Water Week 2022 - The world’s water conference is back and for the first time you can join us either online or in Stockholm. Sign up for seven days of sessions where you will see water in new and unexpected ways, discovering its true value.
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| World Water Week 2022 will kick off on 23 August with three days of online content. Thereafter you can choose to join us in Stockholm, Sweden, from 28 August or continue following us online. The last day of this year’s conference is 1 September. Learn more about World Water Week here.
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IASC New Resources
IASC Statement on Accountability to Affected People in Humanitarian Action
 The IASC commits to report annually on the perceptions of affected people “to inform global and country-level actions” in their statement on Accountability to Affected People (AAP).
The IASC affirms that AAP is a responsibility of the humanitarian system and that humanitarians must “commit to empower affected people, including women, girls and young people, to continuously and effectively shape humanitarian decision-making.” They ask for “greater commitment from Humanitarian Coordinators, Humanitarian Country Team members, Cluster lead agencies (and equivalent structures) to collectively promote more meaningful engagement.” This includes greater diversity “at every level of humanitarian decision-making.” Moreover, the IASC makes it clear that the international humanitarian system does not work alone. They commit to support the “primary role” of affected governments and “affected people, in all their diversity, [who] are always the first responders in a crisis and are active agents in their own relief and recovery.” Finally, they call for donors to “provide predictable, multi-year and flexible funding” to support AAP.
Read the full IASC statement
List of Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs), May 2022 18 May 2022 - A list of serving Humanitarian Coordinators, giving name, duty station and position held.
16 May 2022 - This Strategy replaces the 2021 IASC Championship PSEAH Strategy and is informed by the findings of the 2021 IASC external PSEAH Review. This 2022-2026 Strategy is coherent with the strategic outcomes and commitments made in the 2018 and 2021 IASC PSEAH Strategy and the IASC PSEAH Acceleration Plan, and includes time-bound targets.
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23rd May 2022 - A woman with her child on the way to a well, in Fada, in the East of Burkina Faso. In Africa, an average rural woman travels more than 10 km every day to carry up to 60 liters of water. Girls are forced to drop out of school to help with household chores. The effects of climate change are accentuating this scourge. Floods for some, drought for others. In the Burkinabe Sahel, only 1 in 2 people (58.5%) have access to drinking water.
© UNICEF/UN0642438/Dejongh
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