WASH Severity Classification Background and Development Overview UNHCR

WASH Severity Classification Background and Development Overview UNHCR WASH Partners Meeting November 2020

01 | BACKGROUND Agenda - From Data to Decisions: The Missing Link 02 | THE WASH SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION - What is the WSC? The Overall Aim of the WSC How the WSC Informs the Response WSC Development Timeframe

01 Background Why do we need better information for WASH?

From Data to Decisions: The Missing Link Absence of a “food security IPC-like” system for WASH Over the past decade, despite some countries still facing issues the WASH sector has generally achieved very encouraging results in terms of data availability However, there is no standardised system to summarise complex, multi-dimensional realities into easily accessible findings that can be directly plugged into decision making processes WASH data therefore often does not translate into evidence-based planning, with HPC milestones often criticised both by partners and the donor community for failing to embrace a solid, evidence-based approach As a result, the WASH sector faces challenges with evidencebased advocacy, identifying funding requirements, and mobilising greater funding

02 The WASH Severity Classification (WSC) Responding to the information gap

What is the WSC? A recognised interagency a set of tools and protocols to classify the severity and drivers of WASH needs and vulnerabilities based on established standards Such a classification aims at supporting decision makers by ensuring a rigorous analysis of WASH conditions in emergency contexts The WSC will classify the severity of WASH needs and vulnerabilities into five phases, with potential scope for disaggregated classifications for water, sanitation, hygiene, and cross-cutting factors It will allow classifying geographic areas, estimate the population in each severity phase and allow comparison of findings over time, within countries, across countries, and at a granular level

The Overall Aim of the WSC The WSC aims to improve the WASH response through Better strategic targeting and prioritization within and across crises to allocate resources in the most effective way More robust and transparent evidence base for advocacy, identifying and mobilizing greater funding for the sector Stronger needs monitoring and early warning systems, as the severity will be tracked on a regular basis (minimum twice a year) and will also be projected to inform preparedness

How the WSC Informs the Response Classify geographic areas within a country in different phases, enabling targeting of areas that are more in need Quantify the number of people in different severity phases to differentiate the degree of urgency, and better tailor interventions Draw comparisons over time and across countries, to inform strategic decisions, strengthen the evidence base for advocacy, and ground global allocation of resources on evidence Source: IPC Snapshot, South Sudan, January – July 2020

WSC Development Timeframe Development of pre-alpha version and piloting in two countries Alpha version release Implementation of WSC in 20 countries Developing and upgrading WSC approach Beta version 2. 0 release Implementation of WSC in top 20 HPC countries 2020 2021 Phase 1 2022 Phase 2 2023 Phase 3

Acknowledgements

Open discussion UNHCR WASH Partners Meeting November 2020

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