Top Resources for Global Handwashing Day

Beth Donkin Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Global Handwashing Day takes place on the 15th of October. This year it comes with added prominence in our calendar. Coronavirus has heightened the importance of handwashing across the world. In the humanitarian and development sector, handwashing has long been central to disease prevention and programme design.   In this blog, we’ve compiled some of our most popular resources on everything handwashing. From tools …

What really influences our behaviours?

Ruth Mayne Influencing, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

We are re-running this blog in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was originally published in 2019. The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of individuals adopting particular behaviours for the benefit of everyone in society. Emphasis has been placed on regular handwashing, social distancing, and on wearing face masks. But what is it that really hits home and ensures …

12 tips to sustain hygiene practices now and post coronavirus in emergencies

Foyeke Tolani Emergencies, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Over 20 years ago when I stopped seeking medicinal remedies to prevent and treat diarrhoea and other infectious diseases and moved to population enabling solutions, I have not had cause to look back. Today the coronavirus is having a huge impact, so now more than ever we have better hygiene practices in emergency that not only tackle it now but …

Extra-ordinary faecal sludge management in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Andy Bastable Refugees and IDPs, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

For the first time in the history of refugee camps there has been a concerted effort across multiple agencies to ensure proper treatment and disposal of faecal waste. Prior to 2017, there has been single unit, single technology attempts to deal with the human waste in refugee camps. This was seen in the Philippines during the cyclone Haiyan Response, and in Myanmar, Iraq and for the Syrian refugees …

Three things we’ve learned about measuring quality in humanitarian WASH responses

James Brown Fragile contexts, Humanitarian, Refugees and IDPs, Research, WASH Impact Series, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Six months ago, we started a process for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practitioners and coordination platforms to measure the quality of our responses across different contexts. James Brown reflects on what we have learned so far.  Back in January, we introduced the Quality Assurance and Accountability Project (QAAP) – a Global WASH Cluster initiative led by Oxfam, in partnership with Solidarités International, Tufts University, and UNICEF. The project supports humanitarian WASH coordinators to go beyond simple headline indicators to …

Are Communal Tiger Worm Toilets a sustainable option for camps?

Dr Claire Furlong Humanitarian, WASH Impact Series, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

We tested Communal Tiger Worm Toilets in challenging conditions in Myanmar, and evaluated their sustainability. The ‘Tiger Team’ talk us through their findings. As increasing numbers of people are living in camp settings for longer, we need more sustainable alternatives to commonly used pit latrines.  Tiger Worm Toilets (TWTs) are a novel sanitary solution that contain composting worms to digest …

How small and regular design tweaks can make a big difference to latrine use

Tanya Glanville-Wallis Emergencies, Humanitarian, Refugees and IDPs, Violence Against Women and Girls, WASH Impact Series, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Communications Advisor, Tanya Glanville-Wallis, talks us through the process of developing Sani Tweaks—a series of communications tools for technical staff, promoting best practices in sanitation. Visiting the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, I reflected on just how few women use emergency latrines. Having worked in the humanitarian sector for years, using camp latrines is nothing new to me. Yet …