Strengthening Climate Resilience through WASH
In the face of escalating climate change, the integration of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) considerations into comprehensive disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies has become a critical imperative. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has unequivocally identified climate change as a significant health threat, with far-reaching implications for WASH infrastructure, service delivery, and community resilience.
To address this challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy 2018–2025 emphasizes the pressing need for countries to incorporate climate resilience into their WASH planning and policies. This strategic shift recognizes that the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and shifting precipitation patterns, can severely disrupt the availability and quality of water resources, as well as the functioning of sanitation systems.
By integrating WASH considerations into DRR strategies, communities can bolster their resilience and ensure the continuity of essential WASH services, even in the face of disasters. This multifaceted approach encompasses several key focus areas:
Monitoring Climate-Resilient WASH
Effective monitoring and evaluation of WASH systems’ climate resilience is a crucial first step. This involves assessing the vulnerability of water sources, infrastructure, and service delivery to climate-related risks, such as drought, flooding, and water scarcity. Monitoring climate-resilient WASH also includes tracking the performance and functionality of WASH systems during and after disaster events, as well as evaluating the community’s access to and use of WASH services.
Integrating Climate Resilience into WASH Risk Management
WASH risk management approaches, such as water and sanitation safety planning, must be adapted to incorporate climate resilience. This includes identifying and addressing climate-related risks, strengthening the adaptive capacity of WASH systems, and implementing risk mitigation measures, such as diversifying water sources, hardening infrastructure, and enhancing emergency preparedness.
Establishing Climate-Resilient WASH in Health Care Facilities
Ensuring the resilience of WASH services in health care facilities is crucial, as these facilities play a vital role in disaster response and recovery. Strategies may include securing alternative water sources, implementing backup power systems for water and sanitation infrastructure, and developing emergency preparedness plans to maintain WASH services during and after disasters.
Expanding Research on Climate Change’s Impact on WASH-Related Health Outcomes
Ongoing research is essential to understand the complex linkages between climate change, WASH, and public health. This includes investigating the impact of climate-related events on the prevalence of waterborne diseases, the spread of vector-borne illnesses, and the overall health and well-being of communities. Strengthening environmental surveillance and monitoring systems can provide valuable data to inform evidence-based policymaking and program design.
Integrating WASH within Broader Frameworks
To achieve comprehensive and sustainable DRR strategies, WASH must be integrated within broader frameworks, such as climate change adaptation, health policy, and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). This holistic approach recognizes the interconnected nature of WASH, environmental sustainability, and community resilience, and facilitates the alignment of policies, plans, and interventions across multiple sectors.
Lessons from the Field: WASH-Inclusive DRR in Action
Integrating WASH considerations into DRR strategies is not merely a conceptual exercise; it has been put into practice in various communities around the world, yielding valuable lessons and inspiring success stories.
One such example comes from the Philippines, where the Joint Action for Water (JAW) initiative has been at the forefront of promoting WASH-inclusive DRR. In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record, JAW worked closely with local communities to restore and strengthen WASH infrastructure and services.
Through a participatory approach, the JAW team collaborated with community members to identify vulnerabilities, develop emergency preparedness plans, and implement climate-resilient WASH solutions. This included installing elevated water storage tanks, hardening sanitation facilities, and establishing decentralized water treatment systems to ensure the continuity of WASH services during and after disaster events.
Crucially, the JAW initiative also prioritized community engagement and capacity building, empowering local residents to actively participate in the design, implementation, and maintenance of WASH-DRR initiatives. By fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility, the project has helped to sustain the resilience of WASH systems in the long term.
Another success story can be found in Mozambique, where the government, with the support of international partners, has integrated WASH considerations into its National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy. This comprehensive approach has led to the implementation of various measures, such as:
- Establishing early warning systems to monitor water levels and alert communities of impending floods or droughts
- Implementing robust disaster preparedness and response plans that prioritize the continuity of WASH services
- Constructing climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, including elevated water points and flood-resistant sanitation facilities
- Promoting community-based disaster risk management, with a focus on WASH-related resilience
These initiatives have not only enhanced the ability of communities to withstand and recover from disasters but have also contributed to the long-term sustainability of WASH services, ensuring that access to safe water and adequate sanitation remains uninterrupted, even in the face of climatic shocks.
Advocacy and Partnerships for WASH-Inclusive DRR
Integrating WASH into DRR strategies requires a collaborative and multi-stakeholder approach, leveraging the expertise and resources of various actors, including government agencies, civil society organizations, international development partners, and local communities.
Effective advocacy plays a crucial role in this process, as it can influence policy decisions, secure funding, and raise awareness about the importance of WASH-inclusive DRR. Advocacy efforts may involve:
- Engaging with policymakers and decision-makers to ensure that WASH considerations are prioritized in DRR policies, plans, and budgets
- Collaborating with national and local disaster management authorities to incorporate WASH-specific indicators and targets into DRR monitoring and evaluation frameworks
- Partnering with international organizations, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), to advocate for the integration of WASH within the broader DRR agenda
- Empowering local communities to voice their WASH-related needs and priorities, and to actively participate in the design and implementation of DRR strategies
Building effective partnerships is crucial for scaling up WASH-inclusive DRR initiatives. This may involve:
- Forging partnerships between the WASH and disaster management sectors to facilitate knowledge sharing, joint planning, and coordinated implementation
- Collaborating with academia and research institutions to strengthen the evidence base on the linkages between WASH, climate change, and disaster resilience
- Engaging with the private sector to leverage their expertise, resources, and innovation in developing climate-resilient WASH technologies and solutions
- Fostering community-based partnerships that empower local stakeholders to take ownership of WASH-DRR initiatives and ensure their long-term sustainability
By harnessing the power of advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnerships, the WASH community can drive transformative change, ensuring that disaster risk reduction strategies are truly inclusive and responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
Conclusion: Towards a WASH-Resilient Future
As the world grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, the integration of WASH considerations into comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies has become an imperative. By strengthening the climate resilience of WASH systems, communities can bolster their ability to withstand and recover from disasters, safeguarding the health, wellbeing, and dignity of all.
The lessons and success stories outlined in this article demonstrate the practical feasibility and tangible benefits of WASH-inclusive DRR approaches. From monitoring climate-resilient WASH to establishing resilient WASH services in health care facilities, these initiatives have proven to be effective in enhancing community resilience and ensuring the continuity of essential WASH services, even in the face of the most daunting challenges.
Advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnerships are crucial to scaling up these efforts and ensuring that WASH-inclusive DRR becomes a core component of global and national disaster risk reduction strategies. By working collaboratively across sectors and empowering local communities, the WASH community can drive transformative change, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
As the Joint Action for Water initiative continues to champion the integration of WASH and DRR, we invite you to join us in this vital endeavor. Together, we can create a world where access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene is not only a fundamental human right but also a cornerstone of community resilience in the face of disaster.
