Climate resilient WASH

Public consultation on shortlisted candidate indicators for global monitoring (version 5.2)

The JMP and GLAAS teams are pleased to launch a public consultation on the draft short list of candidate indicators (version 5.2) for global monitoring of climate-resilient WASH. This short list was developed by WHO and UNICEF, with support from the University of Leeds, University of Technology Sydney, University of Bristol and Oxford University, as well as the Technical Working Group advising the JMP and GLAAS teams on the review.

To participate in the consultation, please review the list of candidate indicators (version 5.2) which includes 44 candidate indicators shortlisted for development for global monitoring, as well as an additional 63 candidate indicators which are considered as having potential for development, but were not prioritized for indicator development by the JMP and GLAAS teams. Note that we recognize that the detailed formulation of many of these candidate indicators needs improvement; this would be one of the main objectives of country piloting planned for 2026. 

We are seeking feedback on the proposed shortlist, please let us know if you feel it is too long (if so, what could be reduced?), or if anything critical is missing (please share your suggestions to fill gaps). We are also interested to ensure that the shortlist is well balanced among different framework components; water, sanitation and hygiene; and rapid and slow onset events. 

Send any feedback on the shortlist, or any opportunities for country pilots, to washmonitoring@who.int, or fill out this survey.

This public consultation will take place from 5 November to 30 November 2025. We look forward to receiving your feedback!  

Shortlisting process

Following the public consultation held in April and May 2025, a consolidated long list of 317 candidate indicators (version 3.1) was developed. Each candidate indicator was mapped to an indicator objective, as described in this report. Over the coming months, the JMP and GLAAS teams, supported by the Technical Working Group, will assess the candidate indicators, using a set of five criteria: 

• Relevance
• Usefulness
• Measurability
• Comparability
• Sensitivity

A draft short list will be developed and reviewed at a Technical Working Group meeting in September 2025, before being introduced for public consultation. 

Public consultation on the long list of potential indicators (version 2.0)

The JMP and GLAAS teams held a public consultation on a long list of potential indicators to monitor climate-resilient WASH. The long list of indicators (version 2.0) 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 took place from 23 April to 9 May 2025. There were three ways to participate in the consultation:

1. Review the long list of indicators in either Excel or PowerPoint (version 2.0) 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. 

Long list of potential indicators (Excel, version 2.0)

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.