United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Interagency Story

Combating Cholera in Zimbabwe Through Improved Water Quality

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care declared an outbreak of cholera in Harare, Zimbabwe, on September 5, 2018, when 25 patients were admitted to the Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital. Over six months, the country recorded a total of 10,421 cases of cholera, of which 94 percent were from Harare, and 69 deaths. Cholera outbreaks are often linked to contaminated water supplies, including piped water systems, if water quality is not adequately maintained.  

Interagency Story

Strengthening the WASH Response to Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in Mozambique

In March and April of 2019, two massive cyclones (Idai and Kenneth) hit Mozambique, impacting the central and northern parts of the country. On the evening of March 14, Category IV Cyclone Idai made landfall in Beira, a city of 500,000, then moved into the provinces of Sofala, Inhambane, Zambézia, and Manica, and later affected Malawi and Zimbabwe leaving behind a trail of devastation. In Mozambique, the cyclone caused more than 600 deaths and left 1.85 million people in need of assistance.

Event

Learning Event: Building Resilient WASH Systems in Fragile Contexts

Learning Event: Building Resilient WASH Systems in Fragile Contexts by the Global WASH Cluster & German WASH Network & UNICEF.

The German WASH Network together with UNICEF and with funding of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany will host a learning event and working meeting in Geneva, December 12-13, 2019. This mix will help contribute to the general objectives: the onboarding of new stakeholders and an alignment in understanding between actors from the humanitarian and development arenas to create process outcomes of a higher quality.

Activity

Integrated Emergency WASH Response and Gender Based Violence

Integrated Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Response and Prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV) with United Nations Children's Fund, International Organization for Migration. In South Sudan, USAID supports a flagship integrated WASH/GBV project. Its three strategies are:

Report

WASH in Health Care Facilities | Practical Steps to Achieve Universal Access to Quality Care

In 2018, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General issued a Global Call to Action to elevate the importance of and prioritize action on WASH in all health care facilities. This document presents eight practical actions that UN member states can take at the national and sub-national level to improve WASH in health care facilities. It also summarizes the global response to the UN Secretary General’s Call to Action.

Activity

PIO Grant with UNICEF for WASH Programming for Piura Peru

Conduct Hygiene Promotion sessions for affected populations. Construct family latrines at transitional shelters. Conduct assessment of existing water systems and rehab water treatment systems.

1) Support rehabilitation of safe water system

2) Installation of temporary water systems

3) Improvement of latrines in TES

4) Community programs: solid waste management, community and personal hygiene, safe water management, control of community vectors, training in solid waste

Conference

Virtual Conference on MHM 2019 (exact date TBD)

The Virtual Conference on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in Schools provides an opportunity to hear the latest research and programming on menstrual health and hygiene from around the world. The conference enables the global sharing of new ideas and essons learned, and connects people working on MHM in schools in a wide range of countries.

Report

Proceedings of the 7th Annual Virtual Conference on MHM in Schools (2018)

The annual virtual conference on MHM in schools provides a vital global platform for practitioners and policy makers to share ideas, discuss approaches to common problems, and to assess progress against the five priorities of the ‘MHM in Ten’ agenda. Now in its seventh year, the conference illustrated some of the successes and challenges we face if we are to realise the MHM in Ten priorities that will improve girls’ lives by 2024.