WASH’ Nutrition

1. Aligning WASH and Nutrition programming
“WASH’ Nutrition” refers to any type of intervention aiming at complementing the prevention (before the incidence of
undernutrition) and the treatment of undernutrition (MAM and SAM) through the strengthening of access to water, sanitation
and hygiene services. Aligning implies (re)defining the strategic orientations of WASH and nutrition programmes and identifying
programmatic opportunities based on:
context-specific needs and priorities;
access and security;
There is no single model that can be applied
the mandate and capacities of the organization/mission;
to all settings or “one size fit all” solution.
identified areas of common interest (e.g. 1,000-day window of The process of developing strategy is as the
opportunity);
document itself. If the strategy is developed
presence and capacities of other stakeholders already positioned in
in a participatory and inclusive way, involving
terms of WASH and nutrition integration;
both sectors in the planning process, it is far
national laws, policies and strategies on WASH and nutrition;
more likely that integrated programmes will
specific strategic positioning of key donors.
be implemented. Understanding the purpose
There are different options for aligning WASH and Nutrition:
and benefits of incorporating different WASH
1 By building an integrated strategy, produced in a collaborative way
components into nutrition programmes and
and based on a joint inter-sectoral analysis, planning and strategic
vice versa, helps clarify and align goals across
thinking. The example in this regard is ACF Nutrition Security
sectors.
Policy, 83 an overarching long-term positioning that encompasses
both preventive and reactive interventions in the nutrition, WASH,
mental health and care practices, food security and health nexus; Integrating WASH and Nutrition should be
2 By ensuring that a strategy for one sector includes important crosscutting
issues and specific objectives of another sector and identifies have a role to play in ensuring that issues/
seen as a “two-way street”. Both sectors
opportunities for integration. It means a proactive approach with all
objectives of one sector are properly taken
WASH, MHCP, health, nutrition and food security partners to ensure
into account by another.
integration of nutrition objectives in all WASH projects from the outset.
NOTE
NOTE
There are 5 main pillars of the WASH’Nutrition strategy initially designed by West and Central Africa WASH Regional
Group in 2012 with the support of many partners. This strategy was adapted in 2015 84 :
1 Ensuring good geographical concentration of WASH projects in the areas affected by undernutrition, primarily in the
areas with a high prevalence of GAM.
2 Focusing on the “mother/caretaker – malnourished child” dyad and following them from nutrition centres to home so
as to prevent the vicious circle of “diarrhea/nematode infections/EED – undernutrition” and associated diseases.
3 Placing emphasis on behaviour change, knowing that provision of hardware only (access to water and sanitation facilities)
brings little benefit to health if it is not accompanied with suitable hygiene behaviour.
4 Improving coordination and enhancing partnership among relevant ministries (nutrition, health, food security, water
resources and sanitation), humanitarian organizations and other relevant stakeholders so as to ensure the integration of
health and nutrition goals in all WASH projects from the start.
5 Ensuring and reinforcing the principle of WASH minimum package (this will be discussed in more detail later in this
Chapter) both in health and nutrition centres as well as in the households/communities affected by undernutrition.
BOX 3: WASH’Nutrition TARGETING
WASH’Nutrition strategy was initially designed to the targeting of children under five and of particular interest in humanitarian
contexts with acute undernutrition. This was especially true for pillar 4 on coordination and pillar 5 on WASH minimum
package. However, the methodological approaches of the strategy, the five pillars, can also cover other types of undernutrition
and be adapted to development contexts where both undernutrition rates and WASH conditions are of concern.
83 - ACF (2014) “Nutrition Security Policy”
84 - West and Central Africa Regional WASH Group (2015) “WASH in Nut” Strategy for Sahel
WASH’Nutrition
A practical guidebook
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