Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies

Introduction

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies is a core component of humanitarian response that addresses one of the most urgent survival needs in disaster and conflict settings. Lack of clean water, unsafe sanitation, and poor hygiene are leading causes of disease and death during crises. WASH interventions are not only essential to save lives but also to uphold human dignity, prevent disease outbreaks, and support the recovery and resilience of affected populations.

This course equips humanitarian professionals, engineers, public health workers, and program managers with the technical and operational skills required to plan, implement, and monitor life-saving WASH interventions in emergency contexts. Participants will gain practical tools and global standards to ensure timely, equitable, and sustainable access to WASH services during all phases of an emergency.

What Is WASH in Emergencies?

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in emergencies refers to the provision of safe water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene promotion in crisis-affected settings. It is one of the first priorities in emergency response, often implemented alongside shelter, food, and health services.

The WASH sector aims to:

  • Reduce morbidity and mortality from waterborne and hygiene-related diseases
  • Ensure dignified, safe, and inclusive access to WASH services
  • Protect vulnerable populations from additional harm (especially women, children, and persons with disabilities)
  • Build community capacity and resilience to future shocks

WASH in emergencies is guided by international standards such as the Sphere Handbook, WHO Guidelines, and the WASH Cluster Coordination Framework.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

  • Understand the fundamental principles and public health importance of WASH in emergencies
  • Conduct rapid WASH assessments and risk analyses
  • Design appropriate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene solutions for various emergency contexts
  • Apply Sphere and WHO standards in WASH programming
  • Coordinate effectively with humanitarian partners and local stakeholders
  • Monitor, evaluate, and adapt WASH interventions for quality and impact

Why WASH Matters in Emergencies

Preventing Disease and Death

Contaminated water and poor sanitation are the main drivers of outbreaks like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis E, and diarrhea—especially among children under five. Immediate WASH interventions are critical to prevent illness and death.

Supporting Dignity and Protection

Access to toilets, bathing spaces, and menstrual hygiene materials is essential for human dignity, particularly for women and girls. Poorly designed WASH facilities can increase risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and social exclusion.

Enabling Other Life-Saving Services

Health, nutrition, and education services cannot function without safe water and hygiene. Hospitals, feeding centers, and schools depend on reliable WASH infrastructure.

Phases of WASH in Emergency Response

This course is structured around the emergency management cycle and aligns with real-life response strategies.

1. Preparedness

  • Pre-positioning of emergency WASH kits
  • Risk assessments and vulnerability mapping
  • Capacity building of staff and communities
  • Contingency planning and early warning systems

2. Response

  • Deployment of mobile WASH units
  • Installation of water treatment systems
  • Emergency latrines and handwashing stations
  • Hygiene promotion and disease prevention campaigns

3. Recovery and Transition

  • Upgrading temporary WASH facilities to durable infrastructure
  • Transitioning to government or community ownership
  • Linking emergency response with long-term development goals

Key Components of WASH in Emergencies

Water Supply

Participants will learn to design and manage emergency water supply systems using:

  • Surface water abstraction and treatment
  • Groundwater extraction (boreholes, wells)
  • Water trucking and distribution networks
  • Household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS)
  • Chlorination and disinfection protocols
  • Calculation of minimum water quantity needs (e.g., 15L per person/day)

Technical modules will cover water quality monitoring and rapid field testing.

Sanitation

This module addresses the design and implementation of emergency sanitation solutions, including:

  • Emergency latrines and trench toilets
  • Urine diversion and composting toilets for challenging contexts
  • Safe excreta disposal and desludging
  • Wastewater management in camps and temporary settlements
  • Environmental sanitation and vector control

Participants will explore how to ensure privacy, safety, and accessibility, particularly for women, girls, and people with disabilities.

Hygiene Promotion

Hygiene promotion is a behavioral intervention critical to WASH success. The course covers:

  • Conducting rapid knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys
  • Designing culturally appropriate hygiene education campaigns
  • Promoting handwashing with soap at key times
  • Distribution and usage of hygiene kits, including menstrual hygiene materials
  • Training of community hygiene promoters

Emphasis will be placed on participatory approaches and risk communication during outbreaks (e.g., COVID-19, cholera).

Assessment and Data Collection Tools

Participants will gain skills in using global WASH assessment tools such as:

  • WASH FIT (Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool)
  • Rapid WASH Needs Assessment Checklists
  • Mobile data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK)
  • Cluster 5W (Who does What, Where, When, and for Whom) matrices

The course stresses real-time data use for planning, implementation, and adaptive programming.

Coordination, Standards, and Policy Frameworks

Effective WASH response depends on structured coordination. This module explores:

  • The Global WASH Cluster and its leadership (co-led by UNICEF)
  • Inter-sectoral coordination with health, shelter, nutrition, and education
  • Roles of national governments, NGOs, UN agencies, and donors
  • Sphere Minimum Standards for WASH in emergencies
  • WHO technical guidance and standards
  • National and regional WASH emergency policies

Participants will learn how to engage in cluster coordination meetings, contribute to response plans, and report on indicators.

WASH for Vulnerable Populations

Inclusivity is a key principle in humanitarian WASH. The course will address:

  • Gender-sensitive WASH design and protection
  • WASH for persons with disabilities (PWDs)
  • Child-friendly WASH facilities
  • Menstrual hygiene management (MHM)
  • Safeguarding and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) in WASH programming

Innovations and Technologies in Emergency WASH

This module highlights innovations and best practices including:

  • Mobile water treatment units (MWTUs)
  • Pre-fabricated latrines and handwashing stations
  • Solar-powered pumps and energy-efficient systems
  • Behavioral nudges for hygiene compliance
  • WASH in disease outbreak response (e.g., COVID-19-specific protocols, CTCs for cholera)

Case Studies and Best Practices

Participants will explore real-world examples to understand challenges and innovations in WASH response:

Case Study 1: Cholera Outbreak Response in Haiti

Rapid deployment of water chlorination points and hygiene promotion campaigns helped reduce cholera transmission in camps and communities.

Case Study 2: Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Bangladesh

Integration of hygiene promotion, safe latrines, and innovative drainage systems in overcrowded camps significantly reduced WASH-related disease risks.

Case Study 3: Earthquake Recovery in Nepal

The transition from temporary to durable WASH infrastructure demonstrated successful coordination between government, NGOs, and local communities.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

  • WASH and public health professionals in humanitarian settings
  • Engineers and technical officers in NGOs and UN agencies
  • Emergency response coordinators and field team leaders
  • Environmental health specialists
  • Government disaster management officials
  • Health and protection actors working in integrated responses
  • Development practitioners working in fragile or post-conflict environments

Methodology

The course applies a hands-on and field-oriented learning approach:

  • Expert-led sessions with humanitarian WASH specialists
  • Group simulations for outbreak and camp scenarios
  • Interactive design labs for water, latrine, and hygiene systems
  • Case study analysis and peer learning forums
  • Field-based assignments and real-time project planning
  • Access to toolkits, templates, and Sphere-aligned guidelines

Each participant will create a contextual WASH emergency response plan ready for adaptation and implementation in their work environment.

Outcome for the Course Sponsor

Sponsoring this course strengthens your organization’s capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies with speed, quality, and impact. It demonstrates leadership in public health, dignity, and resilience.

Benefits for your organization include:

  • Improved preparedness and rapid deployment ability
  • Enhanced staff knowledge in Sphere standards and global coordination
  • Increased donor confidence through results-based WASH programming
  • More inclusive and accountable response for crisis-affected communities
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