Visual and reporting templates

Prepare WASH cluster visualization and reporting templates

The coordination platform is responsible to produce high quality reports on response progress and gaps. Standard GWC, OCHA and country specific format, style and templates can be used, customized for each country when needed. The following tools and templates are available in this section (see guidance, template and example in the document section above): 

Style Guide and Logos and Icons 

The GWC Style Guide offers information on the logo, icons, fonts and colours that should be used for producing WASH-related reporting material. IMO must try to use the GWC guidance as much a possible when producing material in the country of emergency. Icons are useful to illustrate documents, presentations and maps. The icon folder contains general and WASH-related icons. Some icons are produced by the OCHA Visual Unit, other icons were adapted to WASH specific needs and come in a variety of formats (.ai, .svg, .png, .docx). In addition, an ESRI and QGIS icon folder contain icons for use in a GIS. The folder also includes guidance on how to adapt the GWC logo to make your country cluster logo.

GWC report & Presentation Templates 

Basic reporting products produced during an emergency should be kept brief, use bullet points and visual-aids where appropriate, and highlight essential issues. A series of blank report templates (reports, sitreps, base maps, operational presence maps, WASH cluster dashboards and bulletins) for general use are provided on top of this page, including:

•  WASH Dashboard Manual to help create static and dynamic dashboards (see also text box below)
•  WASH Bulletin Briefing Sheet and templates (see also text box below)
•  Basic gap analysis templates and information on the reporting requirements of OCHA, including the OCHA's IM Product Catalogue.

WASH cluster/sector bulletin

A WASH sector bulletin/sitrep contain more text than the dashboard. This is where the Cluster can unpack issues that are arising both thematically and geographically. A bulletin is a good advocacy tool where ‘news’ from partners can be added. A bulletin would normally be produced less frequently than a dashboard, and would typically:

• Highlight the urgent needs but also the achievements
• Add news items from partners so that they can use the bulletin as an advocacy tool
• Add pictures, maps and graphs to tell the "response story"

WASH cluster/sector dashboard and operational presence map

WASH sector dashboards objective is to provide a visual snapshot of the emergency response progress against strategic indicators, as well as main response gaps. They present analysed data from recent monitoring results, especially from 4/5 W. Dashboards are produced on a weekly or monthly basis, usually following the cycle of 4/5 W submission by partners. They are shared with all actors and published on the WASH sector website. Sector dashboards are compiled by OCHA to produce overall response dashboard. 

WASH Desktop Mapping tools

Desktop mapping consists in using computer to perform digital mapping functions, often using GIS (Geographical Information System) softwares. Common GIS softwares  include ArcGIS (licenced) and QGIS (open source). QGIS comes with a detailed step-by-step workflow facilitating the production of basic maps. For IMO without GIS experience, it is also easy to make maps using MS PowerPoint or MS Word, by converting GIS shapefiles to Enhanced Graphic Files. An IMO with GIS software can easily convert the administration boundaries for use in PowerPoint and share them. Some desktop mapping tools are provided in the documents folders on top of this page. Having an easy access to local map templates greatly speeds up the process of making maps during an emergency. Some GIS administration boundaries can be accessed in Key external web links below  

Please also refer to the Gap analysis & advocacy chapter for more guidance and workflows on how to produce offline and online infographics.