About this programme

This intermediate course provides comprehensive training on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programming in humanitarian emergencies. Participants will learn to design, implement, and monitor WASH interventions that prevent disease, promote dignity, and save lives in disaster-affected and displaced populations.

Who Should Attend:

WASH Program Managers and Engineers
Public Health Professionals in NGOs
Emergency Response Coordinators
Camp Management and CCCM Staff

Learning outcomes

What you'll walk away with

Assess WASH needs and prioritize interventions in emergencies.
Design appropriate water supply systems (trucking, treatment, wells).
Implement excreta management and solid waste disposal solutions.
Develop and deliver effective hygiene promotion programs.

Course modules

What we cover, module by module

Module 1: WASH in Humanitarian Contexts

The public health importance of WASH in emergencies.
Key WASH-related diseases: cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and neglected tropical diseases.
WASH standards: Sphere, WHO, and national guidelines.
Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Analyze a cholera outbreak in a displacement camp, identify WASH-related contributing factors, and prioritize interventions.

Module 2: Water Supply in Emergencies

Assessing water needs: quantity (Sphere standard 15 L/person/day) and quality.
Water sources: groundwater (wells, boreholes), surface water, and rainwater.
Water treatment: chlorination, filtration, and solar disinfection.
Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design a water supply plan for a camp of 10,000 people, including source selection, treatment method, storage, and distribution points.

Module 3: Sanitation and Excreta Management

Sanitation technologies: pit latrines, VIP latrines, ecological sanitation, and container-based systems.
Desludging and fecal sludge management.
Solid waste management and drainage.
Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Develop a sanitation plan for a temporary settlement, including latrine type, spacing, gender ratio (Sphere standard), and desludging schedule.

Module 4: Hygiene Promotion and Behavior Change

Hygiene promotion methodologies: community engagement, household visits, and mass communication.
Key hygiene behaviors: handwashing, safe water storage, and food hygiene.
Monitoring hygiene behavior change.
Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design a hygiene promotion campaign for a cholera response, including key messages, channels, and monitoring indicators.

Module 5: WASH Program Implementation, Monitoring, and Coordination

WASH infrastructure construction and maintenance.
WASH monitoring: water quality testing, latrine usage, and hygiene behavior.
Coordination with health, nutrition, and shelter clusters.
Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Develop a WASH monitoring plan for a camp setting, including water quality sampling, latrine functionality checks, and hygiene behavior spot checks.

Impact

Where the change lands

Organizational Impacts:

Reduced waterborne disease transmission in affected populations.
Improved health and dignity through appropriate sanitation and hygiene.
Enhanced compliance with Sphere and WHO WASH standards.

Individual Impacts:

Mastery of WASH needs assessment and design in emergencies.
Expertise in water supply, excreta management, and hygiene promotion.
Skills to manage WASH program implementation and quality monitoring.

Dates and locations

Upcoming intakes

Every intake is limited to a small cohort. Booking closes when a date fills or three weeks before the start, whichever comes first.

Full calendar

City	Starts	Ends	Delivery	Book
NakuruNext	20 Jul 2026	24 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Kigali	20 Jul 2026	24 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Accra	20 Jul 2026	24 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Kisumu	27 Jul 2026	31 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Johannesburg	27 Jul 2026	31 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Dakar	27 Jul 2026	31 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book