The WG Short Set of six questions on functioning for use on national censuses and surveys was developed, tested and adopted by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG). The questions reflect advances in the conceptualization of disability and use the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as a conceptual framework. In a break from the past and the medicalization of […]
Oxfam and Unilever’s Chief Sustainability Office carried out extensive research on handwashing practice in emergency contexts. We found nurture to be one of the most powerful motivators driving handwashing with soap among mothers. Even during a crisis, mothers continue to nurture their children to ensure they go onward in life and succeed in bringing fruition to their efforts and fulfillment to their lives. […]
Handwashing promotion programmes in emergencies are important, as they significantly contribute to the reduction of diarrhoea-related diseases. These programmes traditionally focus on the health benefits of handwashing as a key motivator. Information – in the form of messages – is delivered to beneficiaries about the key times to wash hands and how doing this at certain times can reduce morbidity rates. However, over the years […]
The Americas Regional Office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), through its Zika Response Team, has adapted an interactive toolkit and teaching guides for Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya Prevention to the regional context by translating the materials to Spanish and adding a Seasonal Calendar for Vector Control to the toolkit. Additionally, the Zika Response Team will host a webinar […]
It is now well accepted that despite source water being safe, water can be contaminated during transportation and storage and the hygienic handling of water during transport, storage and use is an important aspect of hygiene promotion in all WASH interventions In an emergency, it may not always be possible to ensure that the source water is clean (within the existing budget or time constraints) and […]
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015. This was followed by several powerful aftershocks, including a major one (7.3 magnitude) on 12 May, 2015. A total of 8,855 people were confirmed dead and a further 22,309 suffered injuries as a result of the earthquakes. Out of Nepal’s 75 districts, 14 districts which were home to 5.4 million Nepalese people were among the […]
This toolbox looks at different participatory investigative tools that can be used by National Society staff and volunteers to accomplish a successful VCA. As shown in the diagram below, it forms part of a comprehensive four-part series of publications addressing all aspects of VCA.
A transect walk involves walking through the community to observe and discuss the daily activities, the surroundings and the risks and resources. It is used to note the sites and topography of the area, to understand interrelationships based on space. It is a useful exercise to do in the assessment stage to get a feeling for the issues and capacities which exist in a community. […]
The overall aim of Oxfam’s WASH response in emergencies is to minimise public health risks in relation to water, sanitation and hygiene. This means working more directly with a wide range of people affected by the crisis to better understand them, to motivate them to make positive behaviour changes, and to strengthen their capacity to reduce/prevent public health risks and make their own decisions. We […]
Children under five years can represent up to 20% of the population. In some cases children under 18 years may represent over 50% of the population. They are thus major stakeholders in all humanitarian programmes. This briefing paper describes the practical issues that need to be considered when involving children in humanitarian WASH programmes.