Gap Analysis in Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion

The emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH) gap analysis project was funded by The Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), a program managed by Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance (ELRHA) in partnership with the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP), and is a component of a larger initiative to identify and support innovations in emergency WASH.

The most significant gaps identified in emergency WASH were:

1. Latrines in locations where no pits are possible (urban, high watertable/flooding)

2. Community participation and empowerment of vulnerable groups, including monitoring and evaluation from the outset

3. Latrine emptying and desludging

4. Hygiene promotion and the importance of understanding context, including socioanthropology issues

5. Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and sanitation marketing

6. Urban alternatives for excreta disposal 7. Exit strategies and sustainability issues from the outset

7. Final sewage disposal options after desludging and treatment

8. Further development of non-toilet options/ early response/mobile

9. Hand washing hardware and promotion and sustainability (including soap) and non-soap options

10. Water Treatment, particularly bulk and point of use household filters, including cost and sustainability issues

11. The need for low-tech WASH solutions acceptable and sustainable by locals