Background

Climate-related hazards, shocks, and stresses represent a growing threat to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. These issues lead to an increased risk of disease outbreaks and other negative impacts on public health. To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have developed draft indicators for climate-resilient WASH monitoring. This work resulted from a collaborative effort between a secretariat, consortium, working groups, and various stakeholders to support the harmonisation and standardisation of monitoring at subnational, national, and global levels. The initiative aims to strengthen existing frameworks for national and global monitoring, informing efforts through 2030 and beyond, as well as the Global Goal on Adaptation and the monitoring of the Belém Adaptation Indicators.

Monitoring climate-resilient WASH

Monitoring the resilience of WASH services and systems requires an integrated approach. This approach acknowledges that services are influenced by adaptation actions taken by various actors, as well as the specific attributes of the infrastructure and the associated environment. The initiative aims to ensure that climate resilience is tracked via time series, as resilience cannot be inferred from a single time period. The resilience of a service is assessed through both the outputs of a functioning service and the outcomes of the user experience of those systems.

Objective of metadata

The primary aim of this document is to assist countries in assessing their progress towards climate-resilient WASH systems. The target audience includes national-level actors responsible for climate or WASH data collection and reporting, as well as local-level actors or service providers that contribute to national data. Although the indicators are primarily designed with a national focus, they are equally applicable to subnational jurisdictions at different levels. Specifically, the metadata serves to clarify the purpose of the indicators, define key terms, detail computation methods, and suggest potential data sources or collection methods.

Overarching metadata information

The framework maps indicators across four main areas: adaptation actions by governments, service providers, and users; attributes of WASH infrastructure and water resources; service functioning; and user experiences. Adaptation actions related to water resources, land management, and coordination between sanitation, solid waste management, and storm water drainage are also included. Attributes focus on both the infrastructure itself and the receiving waters, while service functioning examines the availability of materials and the operational status of facilities. User experiences capture the subjective dimension, including the practice of hygiene behaviours and the reliability of services during climate events.

Introduction to the monitoring climate-resilient WASH framework

The conceptual framework for monitoring resilience involves a multistage process to identify robust indicators. It identifies indicators based on evidence reviews, technical expert reviews, and public consultations. This process resulted in a prioritised shortlist, referred to as version 5.4. Each candidate indicator is mapped to specific components of the framework to ensure a comprehensive overview of the system’s resilience, from government policy down to individual user experience.

Summary of indicators

The shortlist includes 45 draft indicators intended to be piloted in diverse country contexts to assess their potential for integration into the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) and the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS). The mapping include five indicators for government policy, four for institutions, three for regulation, and two for finance. Service providers or supply chain actors have seven indicators assigned across water, sanitation, and hygiene sub-sectors. Specific indicators, such as Indicator 101, evaluate whether national WASH policies identify current and future climate risks and mandate ‘build-back-better’ principles. Institutional indicators like 201 assess the availability and use of downscaled climate data, while Indicator 202 focuses on the accessibility and utility of multi-hazard early warning systems.

Overview of metadata structure

For every indicator, the document provides an overview including the name, description, rationale, and related indicators. The metadata provides a systematic way to quantify progress using different measurement units. For example, some indicators use a composite scoring system, such as a scale of 0 to 6 for policy integration, where a score of 6 represents the full inclusion of all assessed climate adaptation criteria. Other indicators use a binary ‘yes/no’ format or ordinal scales to categorise workforce adequacy, such as Indicator 204 which measures human resources for adaptation planning. This structured approach allows for disaggregation by setting, such as households, schools, and health care facilities, and by sub-sector, including water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.

Annex 1: glossary

The document includes a detailed glossary of terms to be used for the purposes of global monitoring of climate-resilient WASH services. Key definitions include ‘Adaptation’, which is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate effects to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. ‘Climate-resilient WASH services’ are defined as those that anticipate, respond to, cope with, recover from, adapt to, or transform based on climate-related events while maintaining universal and equitable access. Other defined terms include ‘Catchment’, ‘Design standards’, and ‘Nationally determined climate hazard zones’, providing a common language for international monitoring and reporting efforts.