WASH Insecurity Analysis (WIA)

The WASH Insecurity Analysis (WIA) is a data‑driven framework that combines information on WASH services, hazards and WASH‑related vulnerabilities to identify where populations face the highest risk of WASH‑related harm. It uses only documented secondary data and a transparent calculation method to produce subnational scores that support prioritisation, planning and resource allocation for humanitarian and development actors.

The WASH Insecurity Analysis uses secondary data sources to generate a structured assessment of WASH insecurity that enables comparisons at the sub‑national level within each country. The analysis begins with globally available data, providing a baseline assessment. This is then refined with country‑specific data, in collaboration with national stakeholders, to ensure accuracy and relevance.

• A national map of WASH insecurity, illustrating relative levels across sub‑national areas.
• A breakdown of key drivers of WASH insecurity, highlighting the factors contributing to WASH risks in each area.

WASH is a life‑saving sector in humanitarian crises and is essential for health, nutrition, food security, and education. However, the sector lacks common, robust analytical methods, which has historically hindered evidence‑based decision‑making and resource allocation. To address this gap, the Inter‑Agency Standing Committee (IASC) has endorsed the WIA as a standardized sector‑wide tool...

The WIA uses four equally weighted dimensions: access to WASH services, hazard impact, hazard exposure and WASH‑related vulnerability. Within each dimension, indicators are also equally weighted. This approach is very similar to the Alkire‑Foster Method, which is widely respected scientifically and used for the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)...

Yes. While DHS and MICS are major sources for harmonised WASH and health indicators, the WIA can also use other nationally representative datasets such as national household surveys, censuses, Multiple Sector Needs Assessments, SMART surveys, and administrative data...

At present, the core WIA focuses on indicators that are widely available and harmonised across countries, mainly on water supply, sanitation, hygiene, hazards and vulnerability...

Countries interested in applying the WIA are encouraged to: (i) establish a small technical group under the national WASH coordination platform; (ii) compile existing datasets on WASH services, demography, health, nutrition, poverty, hazards, displacement and conflict...

The long‑term vision is that national coordination platforms and government counterparts will be able to refresh and adapt the WIA themselves...

Yes. Consulting firms, universities and other external partners can support data processing, geospatial analysis, report drafting or workshop facilitation...

The WIA provides a structured way to bring risk into traditionally needs‑based planning. It identifies current service deficits (needs) alongside recent hazard impacts, underlying hazard exposure and vulnerability (risk)...

The WIA provides a transparent and replicable way to identify subnational ‘hotspots’ where WASH‑related risks are most acute...

At country level, WIA results can underpin advocacy on: (i) directing more resources to high‑insecurity areas; (ii) prioritising cholera, nutrition or outbreak responses where hazard and vulnerability scores are high...

For each completed country, the goal is to provide: (i) a snapshot in PDF providing the results, summarising the methods, limitations and key findings; (ii) a slide deck and static maps for coordination and advocacy...

Yes. A concise methods handout and country‑friendly slide decks are being developed based on the Methods Reference Document and country applications...

Future WIA updates will build on lessons from the first rounds, including explicit documentation of limitations like those seen in snapshots...