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.
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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.
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 |
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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.