Design the WASH sector assessment strategy
Setting up an assessment strategy will help the coordination team to make necessary arrangements to gather the data required to inform the intersectoral assessment process (HNO, Flash appeal) and the WASH response. The strategy is prepared by the coordination platform or an assessment technical working group (TWIG), and must be validated by the SAG. It should address the following points:
Define your information needs
The WASH assessment strategy should not be designed in isolation and should consider the multi-sectoral dimension of the crisis, as well as the humanitarian priorities defined by the Humanitarian Coordinator.
The WASH coordination platform should first meet with other priority cluster/sector leads to define the WASH research questions, such as “who are the people in need of WASH assistance” and “how many they are”; “what are the priority geographical areas”; “what are the key WASH activities that need to be implemented”; “what implementation modalities are the most relevant”, etc.
Then the WASH coordination platform should define:
- the administrative level data should be collected at
- the geographic areas that will be covered
- the stratifications needed (i.e. the breakdown by population groups, displacement status, gender, etc.)
This initial planning should cover all the different emergency phases. To make sure the strategy fits the purpose, outline the strategic and programmatic decisions you want to inform as well as the key milestones and timelines of relevant HPC outcomes (Flash Appeal, HNO, etc.).
Implement an assessment diagnosis
Describe the assessment landscapes, i.e. who collects what, when and how and if the core WASH indicators are embedded in these data collection initiatives. Explain how the different assessment initiatives led by the coordination platform or other agencies will contribute to meet your information needs. Outline key gaps, limitations, and challenges, and how they can be addressed. Finally, outline the assessment coordination architecture, such as fora and meetings, including relevant assessment/IM working groups, that the coordination platform should attend or set up.
Define data collection modalities and needed resources
Define how the observed information gap can be filled (joint assessment, harmonized process…), and who will do it (partners, coordination platform)
Estimate the resources (financial, human) that will be needed for WASH assessment coordination, data collection and analysis. Evaluate what is currently available and explain how gaps will be addressed: fundraising, recruitment, capacity building, etc. The following considerations should be considered:
- Most of the budget needed by the coordination platform for assessment will come from UNICEF, and need to be properly included in their proposals to donors (CERF, OFDA, etc.)
- The WASH coordination team can include an assessment specialist deployed for a short period to lead an assessment, for training or preparedness purpose (see xxx section);
- When no specific resource can be dedicated to assessment, data collection can be done by WASH partners through a harmonized process coordinated by the WASH coordination platform.