4.2 Sector funding
Explore the possibility of different funds for the Humanitarian WASH Sector
The increase in the number and complexity of humanitarian crises in recent decades calls for a change in the conduct of humanitarian action. For the WASH sector, this translates into a significant increase in the demand for funding to meet the needs and expectations of the affected populations. Unfortunately, this increasing need has not been matched by a similar increase in donations: today, humanitarian WASH responses are only 47% funded worldwide. Even when the funds are obtained, they often arrive too late. Unlike the development sector, one of the major issues for the humanitarian field is reactivity –the first response must be deployed within the 72 hours after the triggering of a crisis. But currently, grants take in average 17 days to reach NGOs[1]. This results in poor quality WASH interventions and still insufficient coverage of safely managed WASH services in crises contexts.
To counter this, this initiative wishes to explore the potential of a global humanitarian WASH fund or other potential financing facilities. Indeed, since the current funding system does not seem to correspond to the requirements of our sector, it is necessary to be innovative in the search for funds. A pre-organised funding system would allow the humanitarian WASH sector to be more effective in the emergency response phase, as its work would no longer be dependent on fundraising delays.
New financing mechanisms -such as multi-donor pooled funds- will be studied. The idea is to move from a 'reactive' to a 'proactive' fundraising system, so funds could be directed to support specific areas such as first phase emergency responses, under-funded sectors, multi-year preparedness and resilience, overall sector development and capacity building, coordination of emergencies etc. The overall objective of the fund would be to support global resilience, preparedness and risk-informed WASH emergency response by increasing the flexibility and adaptability of humanitarian actors.
[1] https://startnetwork.org/start-fund
To counter this, this initiative wishes to explore the potential of a global humanitarian WASH fund or other potential financing facilities. Indeed, since the current funding system does not seem to correspond to the requirements of our sector, it is necessary to be innovative in the search for funds. A pre-organised funding system would allow the humanitarian WASH sector to be more effective in the emergency response phase, as its work would no longer be dependent on fundraising delays.
New financing mechanisms -such as multi-donor pooled funds- will be studied. The idea is to move from a 'reactive' to a 'proactive' fundraising system, so funds could be directed to support specific areas such as first phase emergency responses, under-funded sectors, multi-year preparedness and resilience, overall sector development and capacity building, coordination of emergencies etc. The overall objective of the fund would be to support global resilience, preparedness and risk-informed WASH emergency response by increasing the flexibility and adaptability of humanitarian actors.
[1] https://startnetwork.org/start-fund
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Deliverables: > Phase 1 Scoping : Global Health vision report Provisional total budget: 15 000 USD Synergies with: Initiatives 3.6, 4.1 and 4.3 |
Initiative's progress graph
Work in progress, will be uploaded soon. |
LED BY:
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PARTICIPANTS:
Action Against Hunger, German WASH Network, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of the Red Cross, International Medical Corps, Sanitation and Water for All, Swiss Development and Cooperation, and Save the Children
CONTRIBUTORS: Global WASH Cluster and German WASH Network |
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