WASH Cluster Pakistan
Strategy 2010
1.0 Context & Target Caseload
The total target humanitarian caseload for 2010 is based upon the most likely case scenario as defined by the humanitarian community in Pakistan. This target caseload can be broadly categorised as follows:
§ 800,000 estimated total of displaced persons requiring humanitarian assistance, of which 20% will be in IDP camps and 80% residing in host communities;......
§ 560,000 estimated total of host families/communities in areas of displacement requiring humanitarian assistance;
§ 1,000,000 estimated total of returnees requiring humanitarian assistance;
§ 1,300,000 estimated total of stayees requiring humanitarian assistance.
2.0 Strategic objectives
The strategic objectives defined to reach these target populations with WASH humanitarian response have been defined as follows:
• Ensure access and provision of safe drinking water, appropriate sanitation, and promotion of safe hygiene practices to 0.16 M IDPs in camps through 2010;
• Support efforts to ensure access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities benefiting 0.64M IDPs living in host communities and 0.64 hosting population through 2010;
• Support improved access to WASH interventions for 1.7 M Returnees / Stayees during the year 2010, including capacity development of government counterparts and communities;
• Life Saving WASH humanitarian assistance to 0.6 M Stayees in Active Conflict Zones;
• Ensure effective coordination of the humanitarian response programme in the WASH cluster in close collaboration with other clusters and Government, including ensuring complementarities of interventions through information management.
3.0 Prioritization of Interventions
The outlining of focus areas / prioritization of WASH interventions throughout 2010 for various target caseloads has been defined to act as a guideline for the Cluster where and when, due to varying circumstances the Cluster may not be able to reach all of these population segments. This prioritization should be followed, access and circumstance permitting, unless evidence to the contrary is presented and in which case response should be towards priority needs as found. All interventions will be guided and implemented according to Sphere Guidelines. Detailed interventions, including technical standards, for WASH response to these priorities can be found annexed to this strategy.
§ Focus Area 1: IDPs in official and large (>100 families) spontaneous/unofficial camps;
§ Focus Area 1: Life saving immediate needs of IDPs, returnees and stayees in places of active conflict, areas of displacement and areas of return:
o Very few non governmental agencies have the security management arrangements that permit operation in active conflict areas, though certain agencies have demonstrated capacity. Agencies will provide WASH assistance to IDPs and, where appropriate, host populations affected by IDP movements, as security conditions and Government permission allow.
§ Focus Area 2: IDPs residing in host communities
o IDPs residing in host communities and associated host communities. Activities: integrated WASH, also annexed on ‘old’ strategy
o In the current emergency scenario the bulk of the population is residing within host communities; this presents particular challenges to delivery of assistance, as the needs are not uniform and the solutions to these needs are not straightforward. Furthermore the work with these communities may overlap with longer term development programmes.
§ Focus Area 3: Returning IDP's in the places of origin and by default will also benefit the stayees. Activities entail early recovery activities...as highlighted in ER strategy on types of interventions...including Schools, HF, including capacity building of communities and government line agencies to allow for execution of WASH ER programme
§ Focus Area 4: Hosting communities within the affected District itself OR in the other IDP's hosting Districts (e.g. Mardan and Swabi).
4.0 WASH Implementation Strategies
Implementation of WASH response to this emergency as defined above is guided by the following:
§ Coordinate effective delivery of WASH response to the affected populations through the Cluster Approach, including coordination with relevant government counterparts, the development of key partnerships within the Cluster and across related Clusters;
§ Address WASH priorities in camps, host communities and areas of return, with special emphasis on the needs of women, children, the disabled and the elderly. WASH project interventions are similar in nature and have been defined to address the needs of the expected caseload.
§ Priorities for the WASH Cluster include life-saving interventions for populations residing in conflict areas and elsewhere, whether due to conflict, natural disaster, or other, the provision of water and sanitation in camps, in areas of high population density of IDPs outside of camps and early recovery WASH interventions. Projects and Interventions will be prioritized in consultation with Government and other Clusters to reach the most vulnerable populations and to meet the most urgent needs;
§ WASH early recovery interventions and those in hosting areas should seek to establish from the outset linkage to and be guided by longer term development efforts where possible. This includes seeking guidance from WASH related National and Provincial policies and strategies. The emergency nature of the interventions notwithstanding, projects outside of camps should, where possible, utilize a participatory approach, including the participation of communities in the planning and implementation;
§ Capacity development of government and communities in emergency preparedness, response and coordination to enhance the resilience to deal with the emergency situation and ensure their ability to execute and maintain the WASH early recovery programme;
§ Proactive commitment to ensure that cross-cutting issues of human rights, gender, environment and refugees are addressed in the immediate response and in ongoing prioritization of projects;
§ Establishment of multi-faceted and robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms to measure the effectiveness and impact of WASH response, with input from humanitarian agencies and government counterparts
5.0 WASH on-going assessment and monitoring
Due to the rapidly evolving situation the process of ensuring timely and updated information on WASH needs has been a significant challenge throughout this emergency. Therefore the process of a comprehensive WASH assessment and ongoing reassessment needs to be established and common tools, or minimum information requirements should be introduced and endorsed. The most effective system will include Government and humanitarian agencies, utilizing the capacity of the entire Cluster to deliver an overarching WASH assessment and monitoring programme.
In essence assessments and monitoring should focus on;
· Key WASH related diseases – which is already covered in the WHO/MOH DEWS (disease early warning system)
· Hygiene behavior, specifically hand washing with soap
· Safe excreta management
· Availability of sufficient safe water at household level.
· Other risks as agreed
6.0 Inter-cluster Coordination / cross-cutting issues
All WASH Cluster Coordinators are also responsible to ensure smooth coordination with the other Clusters and to maintain strong bi-lateral ties with these other cluster lead agencies. Certain key areas of inter-cluster coordination between WASH and other Clusters are as follows:
• CCCM and Shelter (UNHCR): IDP camp site selection and development, camp management, etc.
• Health Cluster (WHO): Information of WASH related disease through DEWS (Disease Early Warning System), WASH services in health facilities;
• Education (UNICEF): Rehabilitation of WASH facilities in schools, installation of temporary WASH facilities in transitional schools, hygiene education for school-going children;
• Protection (UNHCR) / Food Cluster (WFP): registration figures, identification of vulnerable populations;
• Cross-cutting issues: Gender (women/girls), Environment (decommissioning), disabled, etc.(built into Cluster strategy)
7.0 WASH Cluster Coordination arrangements
The cluster approach is well established with the Government of Pakistan, the UN system and with many international and national NGOs. Guidelines on the different Cluster platforms are given below, however due to security restrictions or other, these may be modified as needed and agreed by the Cluster.
Federal level WASH Cluster
The WASH cluster at the federal level is chaired by UNICEF, with Ministry of Environment having a standing invitation as the Government counterpart. The Federal WASH Cluster will generally focus on:
· Running ad hoc WASH coordination meeting, often on a monthly basis
· Fundraising; coordination of appeals etc
· Information and management support for provincial level WASH cluster
· Raising advocacy issues with federal Government
· Briefing of new agencies arriving in country
· Maintenance of key information on Federal level WASH website.
· Leading strategy development.
Provincial level WASH Cluster
The cluster is chaired by UNICEF with the Local Government as the co chair. UNICEF supports a dedicated WASH Cluster Coordinator at this level. The provincial level WASH cluster focuses on:
· Conducting WASH cluster coordination meetings,
· Running an information management cell, located with Secretariat for Local Government, with a focal point who maintains the 3Ws format, agencies contact lists, meeting minutes etc.
· Producing WASH sitreps for incorporation in OCHA sitreps;
· Briefing of new agencies arriving in province.
· Provision of information about activities of WASH agencies; who, what, where.
· Indication of areas and camps that have WASH gaps needing additional agency capacity to address these.
· Agreeing and setting standards of WASH work.
· Formation of technical working groups to deal with ad hoc WASH issues.
District level WASH
WASH Cluster focal points, whether government supported or humanitarian agency representatives, for key districts will be identified and carry out basic district level coordination activities which may include the following:
· To act as a WASH focal point for district Government and WASH agencies, including DCOs;
· To represent the WASH Cluster at district general coordination meetings (GCMs);
· To provide feedback to provincial Cluster on inter-cluster issues of concern in the districts related to implementation; deal with overlaps and gaps at a district level;
· To conduct WASH coordination meetings as agreed upon;
· To ensure clear information flow between the provincial Cluster and district level WASH actors, ensuring WASH strategies and technical guidance and standards are adhered to and feedback of district level concerns to the provincial Cluster.
Strategic and Technical Working Groups
SAG: On 19th May a strategic working group (SAG) was formed, initially to review and contribute to this strategy document. Subsequently it is likely to be called upon to consider the emerging major strategic issues and make recommendations to the WASH cluster on the preferred way forward.
TWIG: There is much experience from agencies and key individuals to draw from the earthquake response, but this learning urgently needs to be placed within “reach” of all WASH cluster agencies. To this end a Technical Working and Information Group (TWIG) has been formed to look at latrine and bathing facility design. At this stage it is appropriate for UNICEF, ICRC, Oxfam, MSF to be participating in this group and others may join.
Annex A
Sphere Minimum Standards
Water Supply and Sanitation (Summary)
This document provides a summary of Sphere minimum standards for quick reference. The Sphere Handbook provides much more detail covering indicators, guidance note, in addition to other information important for interpretation and application of these standards.
1) Analysis
a. Analysis standard 1: initial assessment
Programme decisions are based on a demonstrated understanding of the emergency situation and on a clear analysis of the health risks and needs relating to water supply and sanitation.
b. Analysis standard 2: monitoring and evaluation
The performance of the water supply and sanitation programme, its effectiveness in responding to health problems related to water and sanitation and changes in the context are monitored and evaluated.
c. Analysis standard 3: participation
The disaster-affected population has the opportunity to participated in the design and implementation of the assistance programme.
2) Water Supply
a. Water supply standard 1: access and water quantity
All people have safe access to a sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking and personal and domestic hygiene. Public water points are sufficiently close to shelters to allow use of the minimum water requirement.
b. Water supply standard 2: water quality
Water at the point of collection is palatable, and of sufficient quality to be drunk and used for personal and domestic hygiene without causing significant risk to health due to water-borne disease, or to chemical or radiological contamination from short-tem use.
c. Water supply standard 3: water use facilities and goods
People have adequate facilities and supplies to collect, store and use sufficient quantities to water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene, and to ensure that drinking water remains sufficiently safe until it is consumed.
3) Excreta Disposal
a. Excreta disposal standard 1: access to and numbers of toilets
People have sufficient numbers of toilets, sufficiently close to their dwellings to allow them rapid, safe and acceptable access at all times of the day and night.
b. Excreta disposal standard 2: design and construction
People have access to toilets which are designed, constructed and maintained in such a way as to be comfortable, hygienic and safe to use.
4) Vector Control
a. Vector control standard 1: individual and family protection
People have the means to protect themselves from disease vectors and nuisance pests when they are estimated to be a significant risk to health or well-being.
b. Vector control standard 2: physical, environmental and chemical protection measures
The number of disease-bearing vectors and nuisance animals that pose a risk to people’s health and well-being are kept to an acceptable level.
c. Vector control standard 3: good practice in the use of chemical vector control methods
Vector control measures that make use of pesticides are carried out in accordance with agreed international norms to ensure that staff, the people affected by the disaster and the local environment are adequately protected, and to avoid creating resistance to pesticides.
5) Solid Waste Management
a. Solid waste management standard 1: solid waste collection and disposal
People have an environment that is acceptably free of solid waste contamination, including medical wastes.
b. Solid waste management standard 2: solid waste containers/pits
People have the means to dispose of their domestic waste conveniently and effectively.
6) Drainage
a. Drainage standard 1: drainage works
People have an environment that is acceptably free from risk or water erosion and from standing water, including storm water, flood water, domestic wastewater and wastewater from medical facilities.
b. Drainage standard 2: installations and tools
People have the means (installations, tools, etc.) to dispose of domestic wastewater and water point wastewater conveniently and effectively, and to protect their shelters and other family or communal facilities from flooding and erosion.
7) Hygiene Promotion
a. Hygiene promotion standard 1: hygiene behaviour and use of facilities
All sections of the affected population are aware of priority hygiene practices that create the greatest risk to health and are able to change them. They have adequate information and resources for the use of water and sanitation facilities to protect their health and dignity.
b. Hygiene promotion standard 2: programme implementation
All facilities and resources provided reflect the vulnerabilities, needs, and preferences of all sections of the affected population. Users are involved in the management and maintenance of hygiene facilities where appropriate.
8) Human Resource Capacity and Training
a. Capacity standard 1: competence
Water supply and sanitation programmes are implemented by staff who have the appropriate qualifications and experience for the duties involved, and who are adequately managed and supported.
Annex B
WASH Emergency Response Interventions
WASH Interventions in IDP Camps
§ Water points, latrine and bathing facility designs will be common across all WASH cluster agencies. Agreed designs, bill of quantities and basic costs will be reviewed by the TWIG and shared and endorsed by the Cluster.
§ WASH agencies active in camps are expected to ensure an integrated WASH response, including water supply, sanitation, hygiene education and solid waste management, in-line with Sphere standards and as per the following indicators:
o 15 liters/person/day of water should be ensured
o 20 persons per latrine
o Separate facilities for women and girls and men and boys, clearly demarcated and designed with due consideration to the cultural context
§ WASH agencies should ensure adequate staff for hygiene education and services of WASH facilities. This includes cleaning of latrines and surrounding areas
§ Adequate and proper drainage surrounding WASH facilities must be ensured
§ Water supplied in camps should be centrally treated (chlorinated) and the water quality regularly tested for fecal contamination and residual chlorine
§ Decommissioning of latrines should be considered from the outset of any camp and ensured upon camp closure as per Cluster agreed upon decommissioning guidelines.
§ WASH outcome/conditions monitoring will be undertaken focusing on key indicators.
WASH Interventions for IDPs in Conflict Zones
§ Will be designed based on the requirements of specific cases. All efforts will be made to ensure interventions are carried out with consideration of Sphere.
Rehabilitation of WASH facilities in Schools and Public Buildings recently vacated by IDPs:
§ Cleaning and repair of existing WASH facilities in close coordination with the Education Cluster and district education counterparts.
WASH Interventions for IDPs in Host Communities
§ Interventions in host communities should ensure an integrated response with an understanding that the needs of different host communities may vary significantly. This includes addressing needs related to the following areas with examples of types of interventions that may be carried out:
o Water supply: installation of new water points, restoration/rehabilitation/expansion of existing schemes, supplemental water storage for communities or other interventions as defined by needs assessments. Water supply interventions should take into consideration source protection and drainage
o Water quality: interventions in host communities will focus on safe household water storage and treatment interventions, including the distribution, education regarding various water treatment options. Central treatment of schemes, sources will be ensured at least once following construction/installation of any water point or scheme (i.e. shock chlorination), but central water treatment will generally not be sustainable by Cluster agencies
o Sanitation: construction of latrines, if required, consideration of drainage issues related to sanitation, ensuring solid waste management.
o Behavior Change Communication/Hygiene Promotion
§ Utilize mass media/communication where appropriate
§ Distribution of WASH related NFIs, including hygiene kits
§ Sharing and review of assessments of IDP host community by WASH Cluster members, leading to analysis and information sharing with the WASH cluster members
§ The emergency nature of the interventions not withstanding, projects outside camps should utilize a participatory approach where possible.
· Key additional elements that might need to be covered are; provision of buckets for use in houses for excreta collection along with measures for disposal, provisions of material to construct temporary bathing areas in house compounds where toilets are also used for bathing places (to release pressure where large numbers of people are living in a single compound), latrine/septic tank emptying arrangements etc.
Annex C
WASH Framework for Support for Returns and Early Recovery
The WASH Cluster Framework for Support to Returns and Early Recovery is developed in line with and fully endorses the Return Task Force’s ‘Framework for Return Policy in Pakistan’ and is developed, outlined and will be implemented in a coordinated manner with the humanitarian community and assumes, that at time of implementation, all aspects of the Framework, including principles and conditions, basic tenets, conditions to ending displacement, all other considerations and the specific operational framework defined therein. Main activities that form the WASH ER response are given here:
§ Rehabilitation, extension of water supply systems, both government run and community schemes, including efforts to support the sustainability of restored schemes and water quality monitoring,
§ Support the provision of water and sanitation facilities in education and health facilities as a priority. This includes rehabilitation of IDP vacated schools in host communities and facilities in areas of return,
§ Promotion of household level water treatment and safe water handling and storage among communities,
§ Rehabilitation of damaged sanitation systems, in particular drainage in towns and support for solid waste collection and disposal,
§ Promotion of community based approaches to sanitation and provision of technical guidance to communities on sanitation options appropriate to the context, including model facilities and support for development, installation of latrines if appropriate,
§ Capacity development of government counterparts including enhanced technical capacity in areas such as water quality, design standards, project design and monitoring, support for additional human resources and support for restoration of damaged buildings and equipment, to fully enable these partners to execute the WASH ER programme,
§ Capacity development of communities, including community participation in design and implementation of project activities including social mobilization for maintenance of water and sanitation facilities, where appropriate, and hygiene awareness activities,
§ Hygiene education including IEC material, trainings and awareness sessions among target affected population and provision of hygiene kits.
WASH NFI Return Packages
To be distributed, where organized return is carried out from camps and other set locations in hosting areas. Can be done in conjunction with larger general NFI kit, the purpose of which is to ensure basic that the return population has access to, at the household level, safe drinking water, personal hygiene related items and key messages on hygiene behavior. This kit will include at minimum: one family hygiene kit , two jerry cans, household level water treatment options for a period of 3 months (i.e. aqua tabs) and hygiene promotion material.
The distribution of this WASH kit, in particular that of items for household water treatment ideally necessitates that some hygiene education sessions be conducted for the returnee populations.
Support to Government Counterparts
WASH Government Counterparts, in particular the Local Government (LG), including relevant Tehsil Municipal Authorities (TMAs) and the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and identified critical needs across several districts to allow for the re-establishment of basic WASH services and infrastructure, with focus on town areas and some rural areas where water/sanitation coverage existed prior to the conflict. These needs continue to be reviewed and revised as needed and, along with information from various Cluster assessments into areas of return, form the basis of urgent government needs the Cluster will seek to support. This may also include support to Health and Education government counterparts, in conjunction with relevant Clusters, to support WASH in schools and health centers.
WASH Assessment / Intervention in Rural Areas
While WASH needs in areas of return have been found to vary significantly and agencies may wish to move to development activities, immediate requirements and interventions should focus on restoration where WASH services have suffered conflict induced damage, whether direct or indirect, and where affected populations are at increased vulnerability due to lack of access to WASH services. Some guidelines on interventions in areas of return are provided below:
· Rural Sanitation Strategy: the Cluster has agreed that the construction of household latrines across the board is not appropriate or sustainable in areas of return. Interventions in these areas must be coordinated with long-term government strategies and approaches and focus on community based approaches to sanitation, including active community participation and intensive hygiene promotion. Latrines may be constructed for those identified as ‘vulnerable’ and/or in public areas to serve as demonstration or ‘pilot’ latrines for communities.
· Water Supply and Water Quality: to ensure the extent of agencies responsibilities in the rehabilitation of rural water supply schemes the following has been discussed: 1) the Cluster agrees to follow certain minimum standard designs (i.e. for source protection, etc.) during restoration works, 2) civil works on any water supply scheme should be followed by shock chlorination to ensure no contamination due to construction remains, 3) agencies to ensure that water quality of source is tested for minimum parameters as defined by the Cluster, by PCRWR or other official laboratory, sources not meeting standards for chemical parameters should not be exploited and alternate sources should be identified, 4) Exit strategy to include establishment of water source committees, official handover to government and communities of any rehabilitated scheme, and where possible support to line agencies for establishing link with water quality surveillance system. Prioritization of schemes to be selected for rehabilitation when resources are inadequate, though not directive, include: population benefiting from scheme, whether in services a school and/or health facility, etc.
· Temporary WASH facilities for schools and health facilities are part of WASH early recovery interventions. Guidelines and standards for both schools and health facilities have been reviewed and endorsed by the Cluster.
