CEA and WASH
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is essential to protecting health and meeting basic needs during and after a disaster. Effective WASH programming goes beyond infrastructure—it relies on meaningful community participation. When people are actively involved in shaping and maintaining WASH solutions, services are more inclusive, sustainable, and dignified. For practical guidance, tools, and resources on WASH programming and hygiene promotion, visit: https://wash.ifrc.org/.
Fourteen actions to integrate community engagement into WASH
To successfully engage communities during WASH operations, CEA should be incorporated into every stage of the programme cycle. This means listening to people’s preferences on the design and location of WASH facilities and creating space to discuss hygiene and water issues through face-to-face conversations and participatory activities. It also involves understanding local practices, decision-making structures, and trusted communication channels, so that communities are better supported to identify and implement their own practical solutions. To help you to do this, you can follow the fourteen actions below which have been categorised by the different stages. View these in an infographic here.
Needs Assessment and Context Analysis
Planning and Design
Implementation and Monitoring
Evaluation and Learning
Key resources
3 October 2024
Red Cross in Chiquimula: Overcoming Barriers to Help
Type:
VideoOrganization:
Guatemalan Red Cross, IFRCThe Guatemalan Red Cross has worked tirelessly in the communities of Chiquimula, where access is limited. Initially unknown, they gained the trust of the people. Through the BHA-CEA project, they…
3 July 2023
Sanitary latrines improving hygiene conditions
Type:
Case StudyOrganization:
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, British Red CrossA case study documenting community feedback captured during focus group discussions with recipients of latrine support to better understand the changes observed in the host communities after they received information…
28 February 2023
IFRC WASH guidelines for hygiene promotion in emergency operations
Type:
GuideOrganization:
IFRCThese guidelines outline a step-by-step process for Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers to plan and implement effective, context appropriate hygiene promotion, without taking shortcuts or delivering ‘hygiene messages’.
22 February 2023
An Introduction to Community Engagement in WASH
Type:
GuideOrganization:
OxfamThis guide aims to provide field staff with clear, accessible guidance on the principles and practice of community engagement in WASH programmes. The content has been field tested in a…
19 July 2022
CEA and WASH factsheet
Type:
FactsheetOrganization:
IFRCThis fact sheet provides brief information on how we can take a more systematic approach to community engagement – working in a transparent, inclusive and participatory way across the 8…
19 July 2022
Protection, gender and inclusion in water, sanitation and hygiene promotion guidance note
Type:
Guidance noteOrganization:
IFRCThis guidance note provides an overview of key Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) issues to consider when assessing, designing, implementing and monitoring both long-term and humanitarian WASH programmes, in the…
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