Water, sanitation and hygiene

The challenge, Worldwide, 844 million people lack even a basic source of drinking water and 2.3 billion do not have access to basic sanitation facilities like latrines. This leaves communities – children among them – exposed to harmful substances that cause life-threatening diseases.   For children under five, water- and sanitation-related diseases are one of…, Resources, The solution, A water container in front of two latrines built by the local community of the community of Ampasimena in Magagascar, 2019. UNICEF works with partners in government, with NGOs, other UN agencies and the private sector in more than 100 countries to make safe water and sanitation more widely accessible for every child. In 2022, UNICEF procured $188.…, Explore some of our WASH supplies:, Menstrual hygiene products Menstrual hygiene products A volunteer demonstrates to her peers how to correctly use a menstrual cup UNICEF/UN0421438/Abdul UNICEF procures and supplies UNICEF's menstrual hygiene products menstrual hygiene products that help adolescent girls, women, transgender and non-binary individuals to manage their menstruation,…, Three ways UNICEF is creating sustainable access to water for children

Equipped with resources and opportunities to fulfil their potential, the world’s 600 million adolescent girls can become a generation of female change-makers. But most adolescent girls around the word live in poverty, without access to basic services, and face disproportionate discrimination and inequality. Delivering supplies and services that…, Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, A woman wearing gloves and a surgical cap vaccinates a teenage girl. In Peru, 12-year-old Jossi Inuma is vaccinated against the papillomavirus by nurse Maribel Vilela Grandez, who works for the UNICEF-supported health brigade. The brigade visits communities in Loreto to provide routine childhood vaccinations, maternal health care and other…, Hygiene products, An adolescent girl sitting on the floor with her hands on her knees. “I was displaced with my family from Gaza City to the city of Rafah in the south of Gaza. I was unable to bring all my belongings with me. This package will help me keep my personal hygiene much better.” Alma, a 12-year-old girl who received a package of UNICEF’s hygiene products…, Water supply, An adolescent girl pumps out water from a hand pump. Lali, 18 years old, is happy with the water pump installed by UNICEF in the village of Mir Jan Muhammad, Mirpurkhas, Sindh, Pakistan. UNICEF and partners have enabled access to safe water for more than 1.7 million people in areas where water networks were damaged or destroyed by the catastrophic…, Gender-inclusive toilets in schools, A girl smiles while washes her hands in a white sink. A student washes her hands in Fatima Al Zahra Primary and Secondary School restrooms in Khanfir District, Abyan Governorate, Yemen. UNICEF created safer and more comfortable learning environments for girls in Yemen by improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities, cleaning supplies…, Safe environments in the High-Performance Tents, A smiling adolescent girl with school colleagues sitting behind her in a tent. 14-year-old Shaimaa Abd Al-Malik at the UNICEF-supported Makana at El Gox gathering point in Kosti, White Nile state, Sudan. In High Performance Tents provided by UNICEF, more than 300 girls and boys aged 3 to 18 years enjoy learning and play activities. Armed conflict…

Amidst the sounds of war, Olga and her nine-year-old daughter Leona faced the heart-wrenching decision to flee their home in Kyiv. With each passing day, the threat of being cut off from the world loomed larger, as nearby areas lost electricity and essential services. "We have to leave our homes, our relatives, our friends, and go to other…, Access to the essentials , Over six million Ukrainian children are in need of humanitarian assistance, both inside Ukraine and in other countries to which they have fled, many of whom are deprived of basic necessities and living under the constant threat of violence. One of the most urgent needs is access to Water and sanitation supplies safe water, sanitation and hygiene (…, Relying on traditional supplies was not enough , UNICEF typically procures individual WASH items such as soap, buckets, water purification tablets, detergent and sanitary pads from multiple suppliers globally on a “best value for money” principle. These goods are then delivered to our network of global supply hubs where they are packed and stored as kits, ready to be delivered to children in…, Fast-track contracts, “With the disruptions and delays we saw, it was obvious that relying on our traditional suppliers in China and India would not get WASH kits to Ukrainian children quickly enough,” says Aurelia Gasca, WASH Contracts Manager at UNICEF Supply Division. Sourcing supplies from Türkiye and Bulgaria meant they could be transported overland, avoiding…, Delivering the goods, Working closely with teams on the ground, UNICEF developed WASH kits customized for different vulnerable groups. Distribution is prioritized for the worst-hit areas of Eastern Ukraine. For mothers and children fleeing their homes, UNICEF provides hygiene kits for people on the move. Containing just the essentials like soap, sanitary pads and…, Responding to rapidly changing realities , In 2023, over 163,000 of various types of kits have reached more than 932,000 people across Ukraine. The year before, in 2022, supplies were distributed to at least 866,120 people in Ukraine affected and displaced by the war. “While the crisis continues, flexibility and responsiveness will be key,” Gasca emphasizes. “By working hand-in-hand with…

UNICEF Supply Division plans to initiate several tender processes for the renewal of global long-term arrangements (LTAs) for water and sanitation products. Companies that can supply such products and are interested in being invited to those tenders should express their interest by completing the relevant web form(s) linked below.   Product type…

Hundreds of millions of children around the world live without access to electricity, a fundamental resource that shapes their well-being and opportunities in life. In many regions, this absence of power not only limits their access to education, healthcare, and essential services but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and vulnerability.   Amidst…

Esther Shaylor, UNICEF Innovation Specialist In the wake of the World Water Week 2023 World Water Week conference, UNICEF Innovation Specialist for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Esther Shaylor, shares her five key takeaways along with her thoughts on whether or not the world is progressing swiftly enough on its journey toward Sustainable…

Clinical laboratory equipment   |  Diagnostics technical bulletins Diagnostics   |  Education technical bulletins and guidelines Education |  Health kits technical bulletins and guidelines Health kits  |  Health technologies technical bulletins and guidelines Health technologies   |  HIV/Aids technical bulletins and guidelines HIV/Aids   | …, Clinical laboratory equipment

The WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and Dignity Kit is a vital part of UNICEF’s work during crisis to meet the basic needs of children and their families, ensuring Water and sanitation supplies clean water, accessible sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices in schools, health centers and urban settings.   The kit is often delivered…, Users’ feedback, UNICEF's WASH and Dignity Kit contains 11 items and is accompanied by a leaflet with user instructions. It is designed for a family of five (two adults and three children or adolescents) to address their basic water and sanitation needs for one month and is distributed in two options:  One-household kit, for easier and faster distribution to…, Check some items of UNICEF's WASH and Dignity Kit, A white bucket with a blue lid. Bucket, (1/7) A 14-liter bucket with lid to avoid water contamination., UNICEF 2023 A jerrycan Jerrycan, (2/7) A 10-liter jerrycan to store and carry water., UNICEF 2023 A child potty Child-Potty, (3/7) A child potty to help toddlers and young children learn to use the toilet., UNICEF 2023 A soap and a laundry detergent Soap-Detergent, (4/7) A soap for hand hygiene and a laundry detergent for washing clothes., UNICEF 2023 Menstrualhygiene products Menstrual-Hygiene, (5/7) A multipurpose cloth, a reusable pad and a pair of underwear for menstrual hygiene., UNICEF 2023 A torch Recreation-kit-torch, 6/7 - A handheld self-powered torch for safety use., UNICEF 2023 A yellow whistle. Recreation-kit-whistle, 7/7 - A whistle, included in the kit for personal safety., UNICEF 2023 A white bucket with a blue lid. A jerrycan A child potty A soap and a laundry detergent Menstrualhygiene products A torch A yellow whistle., Prioritizing safety, The kit also includes two important tools for personal safety, whistles and torches. The whistle is a vital device for women and children when using toilets or latrines, often communal and distant from the households. It draws attention and alerts others nearby in case of danger. The whistle is frequently used in combination with the torch when…

UNICEF supports its programmes with tailored construction solutions to meet the needs of children, including education, nutrition, health and health emergencies, immunization, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).   Globally, nearly a third of primary schools lack basic water services, a quarter do not have electricity and approximately one…, Support to UNICEF's programmes, In other cases, countries do not have the warehouse capacity or physical infrastructure to safely store the vaccines and other life-saving supplies that UNICEF delivers for children. Indeed, close to 48 million children under age 5 will die of preventable causes between 2020 and 2030, many of whom will lack access to basic health care…, Collaborative effort, UNICEF construction projects are always a collaborative effort between UNICEF country offices and host country stakeholders, with technical support from UNICEF Supply Division. UNICEF leverages its technical expertise and organizational capacity to provide coordination between: Host country government actors UNICEF implementing partners, such as…, UNICEF Construction Database, A searchable and interactive tool that documents UNICEF-supported construction projects since 2019. For each project, the tool provides general information through a brief description, photos and videos. , Construction project stories, Construction projects supported by UNICEF vary in nature, size, and complexity. These stories capture some of UNICEF’s construction initiatives and the impact that they have on vulnerable children, families, and communities., Construction projects 360 degree videos, Get an immersive view of some of the buildings and facilities UNICEF has been working on in several countries.

Women and girls need access to quality menstrual hygiene products to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically and with dignity. Lack of access to Water and sanitation supplies hygiene products can limit their participation in school, work and social activities. Menstrual hygiene materials, such as reusable and disposable pads and reusable…, Supporting supplies, In Delivering emergency supplies humanitarian emergencies , UNICEF country offices frequently procure menstrual hygiene materials to support women and girls who have lost their possessions or cannot acquire these products. UNICEF works to ensure that girls and women have access to a range of menstrual materials and supporting supplies, like soap,…, Menstrual cups, The reusable menstrual cup is shaped like a bell and should be inserted into the vagina. Flexible and made of medical grade silicone, it collects menstrual fluid instead of absorbing it. It creates a seal and is held in place by the walls of the vagina. No underwear is needed for its use. A reusable menstrual cup can collect three times more blood…, Disposable pads, A disposable sanitary pad is a thin piece of absorbent material that is worn by placing it in the underwear to absorb menstrual flow. Disposable pads must be disposed of after a maximum of four to six hours of use. They come in various sizes and do not require access to water for cleaning. UNICEF procures disposable, fragrance-free sanitary pads…, Reusable pads, Reusable pads are an alternative to disposable products. They are also worn externally to absorb menstrual flow and can be made from various natural or synthetic materials. UNICEF offers sets of reusable menstrual pads made of cotton – preferably flannel, on one side – and synthetic material on the flip side for protection against leakage. Each…, How UNICEF provides menstrual hygiene products in emergencies, More to explore, Guidance and technical specifications, Guidelines on menstrual health and products, Guide to Menstrual Hygiene Materials Guide to Menstrual Hygiene Materials Guidance on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Guidance on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Guidance for Monitoring Menstrual Health and Hygiene Guidance for Monitoring Menstrual Health and Hygiene Menstrual Health & Hygiene for Girls and Women with Disabilities Menstrual Health…, Technical specifications, Menstrual cup specifications Technical specifications for reusable menstrual pads Menstrual cup specifications Menstrual cup specifications Technical specifications for disposable sanitary pads Technical specifications for disposable sanitary pads Technical specifications for tampons Technical specifications for tampons  

UNICEF’s Water and Sanitation (WASH) team has started a systematic review of new products or technologies shared by suppliers. After a pre-selection process, the products considered as most adequate in humanitarian and development contexts will be reviewed by a joint UNHCR/UNICEF committee to decide what course of action should be taken with each…

Worldwide, 844 million people lack access to drinking water, and 2.3 billion do not have access to latrines or other basic sanitation facilities. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are among the leading causes of death for children under 5. Without access to Water and sanitation clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene facilities , children…, Building resilience in South Sudan’s water supply , Conflict in South Sudan began in 2013 and has inflicted extensive damage to the country’s water infrastructure. By 2017, an estimated Clean water returns to town in South Sudan 5.1 million people in South Sudan did not have consistent access to safe water and sanitation facilities. Lack of access to clean water contributed to the acute…, Bringing drinking water to schools, health centres and communities, In the Central African Republic, progress towards SDG 6 has been hindered due to conflict that has been ongoing since 2013. The conflict has led to the breakdown or destruction of water treatment works, pollution of wells and increased risks in accessing water points. The UNICEF Central African Republic Country Office Annual Report 2021 country’s…, Achieving SDG 6 requires complex construction projects, UNICEF is now undertaking increasingly Complex building projects complex projects to resolve some of the most intractable development and humanitarian water challenges.   Iraq faces significant water scarcity challenges, affecting peace and security throughout the region. The country is affected by climate change-induced drought, and water…, Expanding access to clean drinking water for nearly 900,000 people in Venezuela, Although Venezuela ranks as one of the world’s top 15 countries in renewable freshwater resources, the ongoing economic crisis has severely disrupted continuous access to clean water and basic sanitation for nearly 8 out of 10 Venezuelans. Even with government price controls, a bottle of water costs around US$3. But with minimum wage at…