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Climate resilient WASH

JMP/GLAAS review of indicators for global monitoring of climate resilient WASH

Climate-related hazards, shocks and stresses present a growing threat to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. In response, WHO and UNICEF have launched a review to identify indicators for enhanced national and global monitoring of climate resilient WASH. The results will inform future global monitoring by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) and the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS).  

During 2024 and 2025, JMP and GLAAS are collaborating with the University of Leeds, University of Technology Sydney, University of Bristol and Oxford University and have convened a technical working group to a) review emerging frameworks, tools and indicators, and b) recommend a short list of priority indicators for progressive integration into national monitoring systems. WHO and UNICEF will convene stakeholders at each stage of the process to solicit feedback on the findings and recommendations of the review.

collecting water
@ World Bank/Allison Kwesell

Public consultation on the long list of potential indicators

The JMP and GLAAS teams are pleased to launch a public consultation on the long list of potential indicators to monitor climate-resilient WASH. The long list of indicators was developed by the University of Leeds, University of Technology Sydney, University of Bristol and Oxford University based on reviews to assess the quality of evidence for links between key attributes of WASH and climate resilience and how climate resilience is measured in other adjacent sectors.

This public consultation will take place from 23 April to 9 May 2025. There are three ways to participate in the consultation:

  1. Review the long list of indicators in either Excel or PowerPoint and fill out this survey
  2. Review the long list of indicators in PowerPoint in presentation mode and use the survey links in the presentation to comment on specific indicators
  3. Send any feedback on the long list to washmonitoring@who.int

More information about the reviews and long list of indicators can be found in Indicators, measures and methods for monitoring climate-resilient WASH: discussion paper. If you have any questions, please write to washmonitoring@who.int. We look forward to receiving your feedback! 

Long list of potential indicators (Excel)

Long list of potential indicators (PowerPoint)

Documents

Indicators, measures and methods for monitoring climate-resilient WASH: discussion paper. This discussion paper is an output of the ongoing project on Indicators, Measures and Methods for Monitoring Climate-Resilient WASH. Its purpose is to: summarize key concepts used in the WASH sector when framing climate resilience for the purposes of monitoring; summarise key concepts drawn from resources used to conceptualise and monitor climate resilience in other WASH-adjacent sectors; present a review of evidence supporting indicators of climate-resilient WASH that are being used or proposed for the WASH sector; and, reflect on the implications of the above for development of new indicators for the WASH sector. The discussion paper draws on four reviews, which are being prepared for publication in peer-reviewed journals: 

  1. Monitoring climate resilience in WASH and WASH-adjacent sectors (scoping review)
  2. Evidence for climate-resilient indicators in water supply (umbrella review)
  3. Evidence for climate-resilient indicators in sanitation (systematic review)
  4. Evidence for climate-resilient indicators for supply chain and behaviour change elements of hygiene (systematic review)
     

Scope and definitions document. This background document clarifies the purpose of global and national monitoring, and the scope of indicators, measures and methods that should be considered for inclusion for this project. It also presents a conceptual framework that locates these indicators, measures and methods in relation to existing theories and definitions of resilience and related concepts in climate change adaptation.

Webinars and conference sessions

Technical working group members

The JMP and GLAAS teams have established a Technical Working Group to provide technical feedback on key findings from each stage of the review, from 2024 through 2026. For details of the Technical Working Group activities, see these Terms of Reference.

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